96 



DAHLIAS. 



[May. 



GENERAL CARE OF PLANTS COMING INTO FLOWER. 



Every part of the flower ground should be put into neat 

 order, gi"iiig such plants about the borders as are shooting 

 up their flower stems, and are tender, and in danger of being 

 hurt or broken by the wind, proper sticks or rods for their 

 support. In doing this, endeavor to conceal the rods, &c., 

 as much as possible, by dressing the stems and leaves in a 

 natural-looking manner over them. Let the stakes be in 

 proportion to the height and growth of the plants. It looks 

 very unsightly to see strong stakes to short and weak-grow- 

 ing plants. The tyings likewise should be proportionate. 



Examine all the beds and patches of seedling flowers now 

 coming up, and let them be refreshed with water as it may 

 be necessary, and pick out the weeds as they appear. 



We cannot leave this department at this season of the 

 year without enforcing the benefit and beauty that will 

 result from keeping the weeds down during this and the 

 next month. Therefore strictly observe that there are none 

 running to seed in any part of the garden ] in fact, they ought 

 not to be allowed to rear their heads one day in sight. 



MAY. 



As the season for planting out the Dahlia is now ap- 

 proaching, we will endeavor to give our readers the whole 

 subject of their management, so as to insure a good bloom 

 of this the most fashionable and popular ornamental plant of 

 the present day. As very many are entirely unacquainted 

 with the nature and even the habits of the plant, a brief 

 synopsis of its history will assist in giving a key to its cul- 

 ture. The plant was first discovered by Humboldt, in 

 Mexico, growing in sandy plains, three thousand feet above 

 the level of the sea. The date is not precisely known, but 

 supposed to be about 1785-6. Indisputable authority, how- 

 ever, speaks of its being introduced into England in 1789; 

 but was lost and again introduced in 1803^ from Madrid, by 



