THE DAHLIA.—SHADE AND ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBBERY. 
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oping the stand, and in full flower all summer— 
thus forming a charming embellishment to the 
grass-plot or border. 
It was now quite dark, and thus ended the Ru¬ 
ral Walk in the City. We have doubtless omitted 
to mention several establishments unknown to us, 
and if so we shall be pleased to have our attention 
called to them hereafter. Sufficient, however, we 
trust, has been said, to give the reader who may 
have had patience enough to accompany us in our 
long ramble, an idea of the extent of the nurseries, 
gardens, and conservatories, in the vicinity of New 
York. We shall have something to say in our 
next of the fine farms in this neighborhood, several 
of which are cultivated on the most approved prin¬ 
ciples of scientific agriculture, and are models de¬ 
serving the study of all engaged in these pursuits. 
(Fig. 7.) 
As May is the season above all others of flow¬ 
ers, we have thought we could not do a greater 
favor to our fair friends, the ladies, than to intro¬ 
duce to their notice the dahlia; which if it were 
fragrant, like the rose, would at once become the 
queen of flowers. It was first discovered in 1789, 
by Baron Humboldt, then travelling in Mexico, and 
sent by him to Europe, whence it has been dis¬ 
seminated over the whole civilized world. It is 
of large size, and of every variety of color, from the 
pure white up to the deepest purple. It may be 
propagated either by seeds or roots, and some 
assert successfully by cuttings from the lower part 
of the stem. We have only tried the two former 
methods of growing it, and in these we have been 
quite successful. It is a hardy plant, and has done 
nest with us on a soil of rich clay loam, and during 
those seasons that moisture and cool weather most 
predominate. We found the dahlia usually of a 
larger growth in England than in our own country ; 
but whether owing to the superiority of the culti¬ 
vation there, or the greater humidity and coolness 
of the summers, we were unable to decide. We 
suspect, however, that both of these causes had 
their effect in adding to the size of this magnifi¬ 
cent flower. 
SHADE AND ORNAMENTAL TREES AND 
SHRUBBERY. 
These delightful appendages to our dwellings, 
farms, and towns, we are of opinion will never be 
out of fashion so long as civilization exists among 
us; and as they are so easily propagated, and in 
this country so cheaply and readily procured, noth¬ 
ing short of a want of taste, or absolute sloth, will 
prevent the proprietor of his estate, be it either a 
city or village residence, or the more ample domain 
of a farm or plantation, from their culture. No ex¬ 
otics which have yet been introduced into our 
country are superior, if at all equal, to the indige¬ 
nous forest-trees of America. The Elm, the Maple 
in all its varieties, the Sycamore or Button-wood, 
the Oaks of the northern and middle states, the 
India-tree, the Cotton-wood, the Magnolia, Cy¬ 
press, and other trees of the south, to say nothing 
of the numerous lesser, yet equally beautiful varie¬ 
ties scattered all over the country, are not surpass¬ 
ed, if indeed they are equalled in any quarter of 
the world. 
There are few objects we more admire than 
a beautiful tree; and we had any time rather set 
one out, and give it a good start and a kind bless¬ 
ing, than to eat—unless by accident we may have 
previously pretty long fasted; and as the proper 
season has approached in which they, should be 
planted, we propose to give a few plain directions 
on the subject. 
The Selection of the Tree.— If not grown in a 
nursery, they should always be taken from the 
open ground where they have come up in a second 
growth, and become inured to the sun and wind, 
and drought. If such are not to be found, it may 
be as well to let them alone, for a tall spindling 
tree from a dense forest will not grow. In raising 
them from the earth, care should be taken that the 
roots be as little bruised and torn as possible, and 
if the soil incline to adhere to them, let as much 
of it be attached as convenient. Do not suffer them 
to remain any length of time out of the ground; 
but if this can not be prevented for some days, let 
them be well covered from the sun and wind, and 
kept moist. Let the holes, wherever they are to 
