BOTANIC AL, INDEX. 
7 » 
ers, as after each rain they lose their color-lustre, and only by the opening of the 
new flowers, are the bright colors brought back again. Cool, damp autumn days 
condense and darken many colors to a yet still brighter appearance. If one wishes 
a real early bloom and a stout bush they will find only garden grown specimens best 
for forcing to an early bloom. Rooted cuttings planted out do not give such 
stout and high bushes, but give good, but mostly later blooms, and are for this rea- 
son at times'wished for. One important item is to separate the larger grown plants 
and only let one shoot grow as a single plant or bush, and by early and care- 
ful tying up of the bush, at the right time, it will unfold an abundance of the prettiest 
and rielmst flower blooms. Should there be an early frost in the fall, it would be well 
to let tbe plant remain in the ground for several days as it will ripen better. Before 
there comes many degrees of frost do not neglect to lift out the plant, as the root 
is liable -to freeze easy when too near the crown or wreath of its bud, and its decay 
can not then be prevented. The right time to cut off the stock back to the bud, to 
advantage, is when lifting it out of the ground. If in the spring large strong 
plants are wanted, they should, in the fall, be lifted out with garden forks. 
When rooted cuttings are planted, lift them in their first year, with a spade, on 
account of their weakly growth, being careful that the plant does not pull 
through the hand at the stock, while violently lifting them up, and then, per- 
haps, 'with the bud, be broken off. Large plants can be brushed free from earth 
with a pointed stick, (but not shaken) and then be dried by the air and sun for 
several hours, while to the contrary, weakly ones must be cleaned immediatly, cut 
with the dried earth, covered with sand or coals, free from frost and dampness, and be 
put in an earth ditch of sufficient depth, the upper part being covered with an eleva- 
tion of earth, over which should be laid extra boards so as to let the rain and snow- 
water run off. They could be kept in dry cellars, or in earth and green-houses, 
but not too near a furnace or heat, but always keeping the roots covered dry, 
and occasionally looking after and examining them. 
To increase one must strike in March the January growth, and put direct in a 
warm bed, or set the same planted in pots, thereon. Cut the shoots from 3 to 5 cen- 
timeters in length, with a piece of the old growth, and cut off close under 
the leaf-knot. Place the stocks in a moderate warm sand bed, (also in the spring and 
summer, in a cold bed,) or singly, in small pots, with fine sifted, rich, sandy and 
loamy earth, in the beginning give deep, and later, lighter, shade, over the enclosed 
propagating house or hot beds, where they are growing, watering them at least once 
each day, so that the roots may become accustomed to the air, and by a satisfactory 
mild temperature be planted out in the free ground, or else transpose them to larger 
pots. 
The ear worm ( Torflcula auricularia [De Geer]) is the most important enemy of the 
Dahlia grower, who, with a particular liking and without mercy, will often in a 
single night nibble a great many of the nicest flowers. The placing of cattle horns 
and hoofs upon posts in the flower beds, into which they like to creep and hide during 
the day, where they can be taken out and the brood destroyed, is no doubt, the best 
remedy to protect the lovely and beautiful Dahlias. 
That in so far as this plant carries the correct name of Dahlia variabilis, is shown 
through its extraordinary changeableness and its perfected flower-sorts, being 
partially or wholly of the original form, then going back and become worthless. In 
one sort a bush shows itself carrying other colored flowers, or else but a twig on 
which the same is produced, while sometimes the half of a flower is one color, and the 
other is variegated, is familiar to judges of Dahlias, but by the persons growing them 
believing to not have received the right kind of sorts. Soil and climate, together 
with cultivation are a great consideration, and do not bring about these changes, 
but in most cases by the barbarous handling of the roots and plants growing them in 
faulty situations, as for instance, in too shady places, under trees, poor ground, etc., 
are the direct causes. The earth may be colored and heavy, just so it has strength; 
liquid and rotten cow dung and manure are mainly used. 
Praiseworthy for the progress and cultivation of this flower is shown by the 
yearly offerings of immense quantities of seeds and plants by the most important 
Dahlia growers, when one firm alone, in a single year, often gives to the trade 600 
novelties, which being assorted over, will be reduced to about fifty, after which 
great numbers of the novelty sorts are then made into parade troops. In relation to 
the names of these novelties, one can find them in the then following Catalogues of 
the firms, for to find names for such quantities of novelties, makes it somewhat clear 
that many of these sorts are “ unaccountable laughably ” named. 
Nature only affords the nicest and hardiest little by little. By diligence one only 
obtains, after a time, the longed for accomplishment. Through these means the 
Dahlia variabilis, ( Georyine ) which for the past fifty years, through my father, was 
first cultivated at this place, and by many years of participation and devotion given 
