TUBEEOUS A^D EHIZOMATOTJS IXOWEBS. 59 



avenues, taking care to plant them at the distance de- 

 manded by their lofty stature and vigorous growth. The 

 further cares are — watering ; protection from vermin ; 

 tying the stem, as it rises, to the supporting stake ; and 

 the cutting out of unnecessary and irregular shoots. 



In the climate of England, Dahlias are unable to com- 

 plete the entire circle of their vegetation. In October 

 they are in full force, and the slightest frost destroys 

 them then. In order to prolong the duration of their 

 blooming, they are sometimes planted in large pots, 

 which are plunged in the border during summer, but are 

 lifted and removed to a greenhouse or conservatory as 

 autumn advances. The forward buds are thus enabled to 

 expand in safety. But plants so treated display only a 

 short-lived beauty ; to flower well, Dahlias must have the 

 open air. The tubers ought to be left in the ground 

 some time after the autumnal frosts have destroyed the 

 foliage ; they still find nourishment there, complete their 

 ripening, and are consequently less difficult to keep. 

 About the middle of November is the usual time for 

 taking them up, an operation which ought to be carefully 

 performed, avoiding wounding the roots, and choosing if 

 possible a bright calm day. They may be left a few 

 hours to dry in the open air, to be thence removed to 

 any place secure from frost, where neither the excess of 

 dryness or moisture is to be feared. They will pass the 

 winter exceedingly well, covered with sand on the floor 

 of a dry and wholesome cellar. 



At the end of March, as the time for planting out 

 approaches, remove the tubers from their winter quar- 

 ters into a hothouse, or lay them side by side, close to 

 each other, on a gentle hotbed under a frame. Those 

 ?;hose crown is still surviving, will soon begin to vege- 

 tate ; the rest may be thrown away as worthless. Some 

 persons plant the tubers entire ; but the practice is bad. 

 On the contrary, they should be divided as much as 

 possible, bearing in mind the indispensable precaution to 

 leave at least one starting eye on every portion. If the 

 season is so far advanced that all fear of frost is over, 



