DAHLIAS FOR FORMING DWARF MASSES. 
89 
surface of the soil, and secured with a hooked peg. After-management consists in 
pegging down, as they continue to grow, the leading and main lateral shoots, leaving 
the remainder to rise and flower unsecured, excepting in case of their extending so 
much upwards as to break the uniform appearance of the mass ; few shoots 
require more than once fastening, and those about to flower should not be 
brought wholly to the ground by the pegs ; care must be taken that in bringing 
any down, they are not broken off or injured. The surest preventive of 
injury from this last cause, is to go over the plants regularly, fastening the shoots 
down while they are young. Some branches will require cutting away to prevent 
their being too thick, and the plants crowding upon each other ; the foliage too 
will occasionally want thinning for the same reasons, and to permit the whole plant 
to enjoy light and air. Managed in accordance with the foregoing directions, — the 
main point, choosing of proper kinds, being regarded, — a splendid mass of bloom, 
finely contrasting with dark-green stems and foliage, the whole rising from a foot 
to two feet high, produces, in appropriate situations, a very fine and unusual effect. 
The circumstances under which Dahlias so grown can be introduced into 
gardens, exists to a greater extent than might be supposed. In extensive grounds, 
clumps of them employed would be instrumental in introducing a feature very 
acceptable, as being unusual. Masses planted on banks, or a rising situation in the 
distance, would be unique, and create an effect wholly unattainable by other flowers- 
Also in less extensive pleasure-grounds, a group centrally situated, could sometimes 
be admitted to advantage ; and even in the rural garden of the cottage, such as are 
of small dimensions. These dwarf Dahlias, although not trained in the manner we 
describe, could be admitted where those of larger growth could not, the latter 
growing too tall, thereby being inappropriate from not according with the general 
features of the garden. 
It will be understood that those Dahlias of a dwarf and peculiarly inflorescent 
habit only, are properly suitable for the purpose we have drawn attention to ; and also 
why the tall-growing kinds, whatever are their merits, are not so. But as we are 
practically acquainted with their unsuitableness, we will notice one or two of the 
principal causes of their being so. In the first place, they do not bear flowers 
sufficiently free, and those which are borne when the plants are trained and pegged 
close to the ground are hidden by the branches, owing to their long-jointedness ; the 
peduncles of the flowers are also, under such circumstances, greatly elongated, 
consequently are incapable of supporting the flowers under heavy rain, or against 
rough wind. In arranging the branches too, when pegging them down, it is 
difficult to render them, from their great length, a compact and close mass ; in 
short, they will not at all bear comparison with the description we have directed 
attention to, which, under judicious management, will well recompense, by the 
fineness of their appearance in an appropriate situation, the extra labour and 
attention their management, when thus grown, may require. 
VOL. XIII. NO. CXLVIII. 
