82 
THE MANUAL OF GARDENING. 
They must afterwards be kept regularly moist, with soft or well- 
sunned water, but not made too wet, and the leaves must be 
allowed to dry before replacing the glass, or they will rot. If 
the sun is very strong, water the outside of the glass early in 
the morning, and cover it with matting during the heat of the 
day, leaving only a glimmering of light. The glasses should not 
be lifted for the first fortnight, after which it will be proper to 
take up the glasses occasionally, to admit air and light, in the 
morning for about half an hour; and if any of the pipings are 
mouldy, throw them out. Turn the glasses upside down while 
off, to dry them, but do not expose the pipings to the strong 
glare of the sun. As soon as they begin to grow, place the 
glasses more lightly over them, and open them more fre- 
quently, and for a longer time. When they all appear well 
rooted, the glass will be no longer necessary. Any that may be 
more forward than the rest, may be removed and potted out first, 
leaving the others the protection of the glass till they are 
sufficiently advanced. When they have all struck root, they 
may be transplanted into a bed of common garden mould — rather 
loose and sandy is better than a heavy soil. Pinks are very 
hardy, and require little or no protection during winter. Keep 
the beds free from weeds ; and if the roots are loosened by the 
frosts, press the soil firmly round them in the spring. When 
blooming, manage like Carnation. 
Dahlias are at present much esteemed ; they are tubers, and 
received their name from Dahl, a Swedish botanist. They are 
natives of Mexico, growing on the high sandy plains: the soil 
for their culture should, therefore, be rather light. It is impos- 
sible to describe the general appearance of the Dahlia, as its 
varieties are almost endless, from its extensive cultivation. 
There are said to be upwards of a thousand named flowers; 
judges distinguish them by three criteria, form, colour, and size. 
In the first place the flower, on a front view, should be perfectly 
circular ; the eye or disk of the full-blown flower should be hid 
by the central petals, arranging themselves into a fine crown, 
and the side view should present a perfect hemisphere, or resem- 
ble the upper half of an orange. The colour when self, or of single 
shade, should be bright and distinct; when variegated the marking 
should be clear and regular, whether stripes, shadings, edgings, or 
motlings, without clouding or running. The size is less attended 
to than the form, as the best formed flower will be more highly 
estimated than the largest. Dahlias also should show a disposi- 
tion to bloom freely, and have shortish flower-stalks, on which 
the blossom should stand boldly and well exposed to view. They 
are propagated either by seeds, cuttings, or dividing the roots. 
The former method is resorted to only by Florists and others, 
who wish to produce new sorts; and we shall no farther revert to 
