20 THE FLORIST AND 
A RETROSPECT OF THE DAHLIA SEASON OF 1854. 
In redemption of tlie conditional pledge given to the readers of the 
Florist, in the number for July last, I return to the subject of the Dahlia, 
■which, although well-nigh threadbare, from constant wear, is by no means 
"used up." Can it ever be so, indeed, while progressive improvement in 
the growing and showing of the flower goes steadily forward, as at present ? 
The season just past, as every grower can testify, has been especially 
unfavorable to the Dahlia. Early planting was impossible, in consequence 
of the cold weather having been even more protracted than usual. I am 
not, however, disposed to consider this a great evil. Indeed, it must be 
admitted — taking into account the condition of the ground, and the remark- 
ably fine wea4;her which followed close upon the period of planting — that 
during the first weeks of culture the prospect of the Dahlia fancier was 
never more encouraging. The plants grew most vigorously; and well it 
was they did so, for never did they more need an exuberance of strength, 
to enable them to bear up against the adverse influences to which they soon 
became exposed. No part of the kingdom I have heard of was exempt from 
the ravages of the black aphis, than which nothing more efi'ectually checks 
the growth and debilitates the constitution of the plant. This was suc- 
ceeded (in certain districts) by a minute grub, deposited in the axils of the 
upper leaves, which found its appropriate aliment in the bloom bud, almost 
as soon as developed. From these two causes early flowers were unusually 
bad. My own — instead of being the finest of the season, as is usually the 
case — were meagre, ill-conditioned, and lustreless. But since 
The darkest day — 
Live till to-morrow — will haye passed away ; 
So here, as in every instance, Time brought with him his healing in- 
fluences, and the prospects of the Dahlia waxed brighter. But the summer 
was unusually dry, and then came the earwig in battalions, and, worse than 
whole armies of earwigs, the dreaded thrips. The effect of the last-named 
pest was, as might naturally be expected, especially detrimental to the 
London growers ; and to this cause I attribute it, that until after the wel- 
^come showers which fell about the middle of September, they were not found 
to occupy their usual prominent places at exhibitions. At Salisbury, at the 
Surrey Gardens, and at Brighton, the chief prizes were taken into the 
