May.'] SOIL ARRANGEMENT. 99 
large tumbler will do), and in two weeks it will have taken 
root; the glass may then be removed, and the plant gradually 
inured to the open air. 
Soil. — As far as my observations enable me to judge, the 
soil best adapted for the Dahlia is a sandy loam, not reten- 
tive of moisture, and not too rich, as they will grow to leaves 
and branches, producing few flowers, and even then imper- 
fect : not too poor, as in such they will be very indifferent, 
meagre in size and general appearance. Where soils are 
rich and heavy, a portion of sand or gravel should be mixed 
in the soil where they are planted : but if poor, incorporate 
with the sand well-decomposed manure; and when the plants 
are planted, a stick in proportion to the plant should be put 
with it, and at least eighteen inches in the ground, and not 
less than two inches in diameter, to which they must be care- 
fully tied as they grow, never allowing more than one stem 
to each plant; and the side branches should be cut off from 
one to three feet from the ground, according to the height of 
the plant. Emperor de 3faroc, the most favourite crimson 
Dahlia, tipped with white, comes invariably true to its 
character in sandy soil, whereas, in rich heavy soil, it is fre- 
quently only crimson. The worst of all soils for the Dahlia 
is a rich loam, retentive of moisture ; in such they grow to 
wood and foliage, producing few and very imperfect flowers. 
The best disposition or arrangement in planting the 
Dahlia, I think, is in groups; each group should be com- 
posed of a different section of colour : this affords a close 
comparison, and gives greater diversity of landscape than 
combining the colours ; the tallest-growing sorts should be 
carefully planted in the centre or at the back of each group. 
The roots should be planted from three to four feet from 
each other every way. But where they are planted in rows 
along walks or avenues, two or three feet will be a sufficient 
distance from 'plant to plant. Individual plants look ex- 
tremely well if they are of a dwarf habit. To have a con- 
tinued succession of bloom, there should be two plantings; 
the first about the fifteenth of the month, and the latest 
about the end of June ; it is the June planting that gene- 
rally produces the finest flowers ; this fact (though lately 
discovered) is now well understood by some cultivators, and 
is easily accounted for. AVhen plants are forced and planted 
early, they are in a flowering state much earlier, to be sure, 
