91 



must hare every spot cut away : some may be found 

 shrivelling ; these should be potted directly, but not 

 forced until the usual time. (Gard. and Flor. ii. 31.) 



Groicing Dahlias in dwarf 'masses. — Mr. Pax ton 

 has given the following directions for effecting this 

 growth. Dahlias of a dwarf and peculiarly florescent 

 habit only are suitable for this purpose ; an old kind, 

 called Ranunculiflora, is held in estimation. In rais- 

 ing the plants, attention should be directed to prevent 

 them being highly stimulated, or luxuriance of dispo- 

 sition created, it being unfavourable to a satisfactory 

 production of bloom. The soil to grow them in 

 should be selected of a free, rather light, and perhaps 

 slightly poor description. In planting, the plants 

 should be placed so as to b2 nearly flat on the surface 

 of the soil, and secured with a hooked peg. After 

 management consists in pegging down, as they con- 

 tinue to grow, the leading and main lateral shoots, 

 leaving the remainder to rise and flower unsecured, 

 excepting in case of their extending so much upwards 

 as to break the uniform appearance of the mass ; few 

 shoots require more than once fastening. Care must 

 be taken that in bringing any down they are not 

 broken off or injured ; the surest preventive against 

 which is to go over the plants regularly, fastening the 

 shoots down while they are young. Some branches 

 will require cutting away to prevent the plants crowd- 

 ing upon each other. Managed in accordance with 



