CULTURE OF DAHLIAS. 
105 
10. When all danger of frost is over, they may be turned out with good balls into 
the situations where they are intended to flower. 
11. They will grow well in any good garden soil, but if it be a good strong rich 
loam, they will flower earlier and better; also the colours will be more brilliant. 
Much dung, however, must not be introduced into light soils for them, or they will 
make a great quantity of branches, and probably not flower till late in the year, 
when the frosts are just commencing. But if the soil be suitable, they will flower 
about the end of July. 
12. Old roots . To forward their flowering plunge them in a gentle heat, either 
in a hotbed, or other convenience, making use of either old bark, leaves, or saw-dust. 
This should be done in the beginning of February. The heat of the hotbed must 
not be great, or the roots will be liable to rot. 
13. When the young shoots have pushed about four inches long, take the roots 
out of the bark, &c., in which they were plunged, and pot them ; but previous to 
potting, if the roots can be separated, now is the best time to do it. Always leave 
about two shoots to each piece of root so taken off ; all superfluous shoots should be 
cut ofF close to the root to form cuttings. 
14. Pot each of the roots separate as above in a rich light loam, the size of the 
pots must be regulated according to the size of the roots. 
15. If it is not convenient to push the roots early, they will do very well planted 
at once in the open ground ; and when the young shoots have pushed about four or 
six inches long, take them all off except one or two, and plant the shoots so taken 
off as cuttings. 
16. Root-grafting is very advantageous, when the sorts are very choice and the 
cuttings very weak, as when raised from grafts they are lit for planting out in half 
the time of cuttings. Roots of any inferior sorts will answer well for stocks; when 
the cuttings of the sorts to be propagated are in readiness, break off single tubers, 
and with a sharp knife slit them for two inches downwards from the top, making 
the incision on one side only, cutting about half way through, then cut the scion 
somewhat wedge-shaped, and insert it in the incision of the tuber ; and after having 
bound the root round with good bass mat, pot them in 60-sized pots, and treat 
them as cuttings. 
17. In obtaining cuttings, splitting or cutting off close to the root is far prefer- 
able to cutting them through a joint in any other part of the shoot. The best sized 
pots for planting cuttings in are sixties, placing one cutting in each pot. 
18. Fill the pots for cuttings with a light sandy soil. After being planted plunge 
them in a hotbed, and give very little water ; in sunny weather shade them, until 
they are perfectly established, which will be in about a fortnight after planting. 
19. When they are rooted remove them to a cold frame, or other shelter, where 
they can receive plenty of air, and about the beginning of May, they may be 
regularly exposed to the air, except in case of frost, when they must be protected. 
20. About the end of May or beginning of June, when all danger of frost is 
over, they may be turned out into the situations where they are intended to flower; 
