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Those intended for glasses should be placed in them about the middle of 

 November, the glasses being previously filled with pure water, so that the 

 bottom of the bulb may just touch the water; then place ihera for the first 

 ten days in a dark room, to promote the shooting of the roots, after which 

 expose thorn to the sun and light as much as possible. They will bloom, 

 however, with little or no sun, but the flowers will be inferior in colour. 

 The water should be changed as often as it becomes impure, at which 

 period the roots ought to be drawn entirely out of the glasses and rinsed 

 m clean water, the glasses being at the same time well washed inside. 

 Rain or soft water is preferable to that termed hard, but either will answer 

 the purpose, provided it be perfectly clear. Bulbs that have been forced 

 are of but little value, and require a considerable period to regain their 

 natural vigour. When removed from the pots or glasses, they should be 

 immersed in water for a week, and then planted in a soil properly prepared, 

 where they will usually commence flowering again the second year. 



Dahlia, or Georgian.— Few of our most rustic plants exact less care 

 than this splendid native of Mexico. Indeed, so simple is its culture, that 

 it is already widely disseminated in every part of Europe, as well as in the 

 West Indies, South America, &c, in all of which it has been found to 

 succeed. It will thrive in any good soil, but as is the case with other 

 plants held in great estimation, amateurs bestow more care to its culture 

 than is absolutely required, and have adopted particular rules for that ob- 

 ject. The roots are tuberous, and towards the last of April they begin to 

 push out young shoots at the base of the stem of the previous year. At 

 this period, or rathei earlier, they should be planted ; they will, however, 

 succeed perfectly well if this i3 deferred till June, but will not come so 

 soon into flowering. In England they usually from choice, plant the 

 Dahlia in poor, gravelly soil, in order to render it more dwarf in stature, 

 and this course may have its advantages in a humid atmosphere. In our 

 own country, however, where the heat of summer is excessive, and where 

 we are sometimes visited by a severe drought, the Dahlia would often be 

 absolutely blighted, unless the soil were sufficiently rich and retentive of 

 moisture. When planted in a generous soil, our climate is so extremely 

 congenial to its habits, that it expands with the utmost luxuriance, attain- 

 ing a degree of beauty in its developement, if not unequalled, at least not 

 to be surpassed. 



The course we have adopted for its culture, although extremely simple, 

 has been eminently successful, and the direciions we shall now give are in 

 accordance theiewilh Make the ground mellow to the depth of eighteen 

 inches, digging in at the same time a liberal supply of manure. Plant the 

 dwarf kinds at three, and the tall ones at four feet distant; and before 

 placing the roots, dig in a shovel full of manure at the top of each hole 

 destined to receive them. The root ehou'd be placed two inches beneath 

 the surface — measuring from the base of the old stem. Must persons al- 

 low but one stalk to grow, and of course select the strongest— cutting 

 away the weaker ones. When planted along u walk or avenue, a triple 

 range presents a very beautiful appearance, the most dwarf being selected 

 for the first row, those of greater stature for the second, and the tallest for 

 the third row — indeed this manner of arrangement may be extended to five 

 or six rows. Another mode is to plant them in clumps, either circular, 

 square, or as the taste may suggest, the tallest varieties being selected for 

 the centre. In either of these arrangements, a judicious selection of the 

 various colours is requisite, in order to unite to their brilliant display, the 

 advantage of a tasteful combination. 



When the plants are about a foot high, a pole should be placed by each, 

 proportioned to the usual height it attains, which should be driven into 

 the ground about a foot from the stalk, so as not to interfere with the 

 roots. The poles or stakes will necessarily vary from three to eight 

 feet in height above the surface; and to be firmly placed, should penetrate 



