cool night in which to harden. If foliage is desired to mix with the flowers, it would be 
better to take some blind shoots from the lower portion of the plant rather than cut away 
the top where blooming growth is so much needed. On this point let me say that I do not 
recommend Dahlia foliage for a green, as it wilts quickly, and where the foliage is at- 
tached to the stem with the bloom, it causes the bloom to wilt also. It is far better to 
use some other green that is more lasting. 
REFORMS. 
A reform measure among commercial growers is a long time overdue. There are 
by far too many varieties grown and catalogued. 
Of the one thousand and more named varieties now before the public, six hundred 
should be discarded at once. The remaining four hundred should then be made to pass 
in review before a critical public, and after one hundred to one hundred and fifty have 
been selected the balance may be permanently excused. The list will then be in proper 
shape to select from and amply long for all practical purposes. 
FLORISTS' VARIETIES. 
For the cut flower trade the list should be very short and suitable to the purpose. A 
few varieties are preferable to many, and these should be clear, bright, self-colored flow- 
ers, though not necessarily deep colors; but should be selected to conform to the popular 
color tastes of the day. I would say that six to eight good varieties would meet the 
requirenr.ents of the cut flower trade, say red, scarlet, yellow, two shades of pink, and two 
white, one large and one small for design work. The latter need not have a long stem, 
but the others should have stems from twelve to eighteen inches in length, and as much 
longer as they may be had. 
The Dahlia is profitable as a cut flower and sells well in all large markets. 
A HAROY BORDER AT DAHLMOOR. (phlox and ALASKA DAISvl 
