16 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



liberally watered in the event of hot, dry weather; they should be 

 protected from the depredations of slugs early and of earwigs 

 later in the season ; and each plant must be provided with a stout 

 stake. Single and Pompon Dahlias need nothing further for the 

 production of a telling mass of bloom ; but many, if not most, of 

 the Cactus Dahlias require the additional operation of disbudding, 

 in order to bring their flowers into view above the foliage. For 

 it must be regretfully admitted that many of the so-called 

 Decorative Dahlias are not Cactus, while not a few of the Cactus 

 are anything but Decorative, owing to the fact of their flowers 

 being concealed by their own foliage. For in these cases, when 

 the terminal bud on each shoot has developed to a certain extent, 

 two other buds, one on each side, start into growth, and increase 

 so rapidly that they overtop the terminal bud, which, in conse- 

 quence, by the time it has developed into a bloom, is hidden 

 from view by the leafy flower- stems that have grown up beside 

 it. The original Cactus Dahlia (Juarezii) is not exempt from 

 this objection ; but the most conspicuous example is the more 

 recent variety, Amphion, whose flowers are almost as retiring 

 as those of the modest violet. The only way to remedy this 

 defect is to "disbud" freely — that is to say, to pinch out the 

 side-buds as soon as the terminal bud is clearly visible — and 

 then in due time the flowers will be well displayed above the 

 foliage. 



With a view to making a telling effect of colour it is best, 

 where space affords, to grow several plants of a variety grouped 

 together, rather than to plant mixed groups in which each plant 

 is of a different variety. Comparatively few varieties, boldly massed, 

 will produce a more decorative effect than a general collection 

 containing but one or two examples of each of many sorts. Then 

 again, unless for special purposes or situations, it is generally 

 desirable to cultivate varieties that do not grow too tall. Dahlias 

 of all classes have greatly improved in this respect of late years, 

 and there has doubtless for a long time been a tendency towards 

 a dwarfer and more bushy habit. Indeed, among Single Dahlias 

 a race of quite " Tom Thumb " varieties, some of which will 

 probably be distributed next spring, has been raised during the 

 last few years, and is likely to furnish a valuable addition to 

 popular bedding plants ; the general character of the tribe being 

 to produce a sturdy, bushy plant of from nine inches to a foot 



