22G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 14,1895. 
admirers, and those who like them can grow, show, and 
enjoy them. There is in horticulture such wide room for all 
sorts of tastes that it would be stupid to complain because some 
found more of pleasure in growing big-flowered double Dahlias 
than in more elegant forms. 
Those who want Dahlias to give colour and gaiety in gardens 
can hardly do better than grow the Pompon forms, for these are of 
all the sections the most floriferous. If there be partiality for 
smallish solid rotund flowers, then these are admirable, too, for 
cutting. For sale in bunches they are much esteemed, and a few 
dozens of plants, if of some half dozen of the most pleasing colours, 
will furnish during the season an immense number of blooms. 
But for house decoration in a cut state no Dahlias can excel the 
charming single blooms or the quaint and singularly graceful 
Cactus varieties. The Pompon forms show little advance ; they 
are almost as good as they can be. The singles also seem to have 
reached the end of their tether. The flat-petalled round form to 
which this section speedily attained remains as before, and perhaps 
it is rather from some sort of revulsion from that round form of 
flower that a strain called single Cactus Dahlias have been created. 
At present the best that can be said for these is that they are 
floral abortions. Not very high praise that; but it is not possible 
for any person of taste to discover in them so far elements of 
beauty or attractiveness. Until they develop into semi-double 
forms there is little hope for them, and even then they will be but 
inferior examples of the Cactus strain, of which in true doubles we 
have now such singularly beautiful varieties. 
It is almost exclusively in the Cactus section that there is real 
development. We started with these somewhat coarsely, and ran 
off into a flat-petalled section that since has been termed decora¬ 
tive, an elastic term, but not out of place, as most of this strain 
make very effective garden flowers. But the true Cactus ideal so 
admirably set in the Mexican Juarezi was very largely departed 
from for some time, and it is only within the past few years that 
we have got back to the right track and even beyond in elegance 
and refinement what Juarezi furnished. We may well expect, 
now that such beauty has been attained, raisers will set them¬ 
selves to improve the habit of growth which has so far largely 
characterised the Cactus strain. That process has gone on some¬ 
what liberally so far as other sections are concerned, and the more 
popular Cactus forms may now follow suit. If we can obtain 
plants some 2^ to 3 feet in height, carrying flowers as profusely as 
do the Pompons, and of the most perfect and refined Cactus form, 
then we shall indeed have made great advance. Some development 
in that direction has already been seen, and no doubt in a year or 
two there will be many others of similar dwarfed free-blooming 
characteristics. 
It is yet a far cry to the season of Dahlia flowers, but we are 
full into the season of propagation. Where ordinary prudence 
prevailed roots were effectually stored, and the severe frost left 
them unharmed. No doubt in many directions Dahlia roots have 
gone the way of Potatoes, being frosted and destroyed, but in 
the nurseries growths are now being pushed on in warmth, and 
young plants produced in myriads against the demand that seems 
likely to be unusually large this spring. In any small garden 
the same practice should prevail. It is well to make an early start 
in Dahlia propagation, because not only are much stronger plants 
for putting out at the end of May thus secured, but many more of 
them can be had also. Those who cannot propagate from lack of 
stock roots should send their orders to the florists early, and that 
will entitle them to demand strong, matured plants in due course. 
Too often the purchaser has to put up with ill-rooted and immature 
plants that come direct from cutting pots and heat. These are not 
at all creditable for any trader to send out, and if, as some 
untutored persons will do, are planted outdoors at once, they almost 
assuredly die ; or if they be as advised, placed singly in small pots, 
and stood in a frame, they are even then hardly fit to put out¬ 
doors until some three weeks after receipt. Yery likely the blame 
rests chiefly with the purchaser who left his ordering too late, but 
it should even then not all fall on his shoulders. 
It is best where practicable to have young plants sent in their 
pots, or if the pots be omitted then each ball of soil should be 
carefully wrapped in soft paper before packing. When received 
these plants should be placed in pots one size larger than rooted in, 
be stood in a frame or greenhouse for a week or so, then put out¬ 
doors into a warm place, where they can be protected at night for 
yet another week or so, and then they may be planted safely, 
because so well rooted and hardened. Those who may prefer to 
root their own can purchase cuttings now cheaply, but some bottom 
heat is essential for that purpose. Howsoever obtained, it is desired 
not only that there may be for all the fullest success, but that 
Dahlias may once more testify that they are of the most beautiful 
of garden flowers.—D. 
Events of the Week. —The events of interest to horticultarista 
are now becoming more numerous, as during the next week the Crystal 
Palace Co. will hold its first spring show on Saturday, March 16th; 
the Reading Horticultural Society a bulb show on Tuesday, March 19th, 
and the Royal Botanical Society an early spring show on Wednesday, 
March 20th. 
- Weather in London. —Pleasant changes in the weather have 
taken place during the past week. Rain fell on Saturday last, but 
with this exception bright sunny days have predominated. On Wed¬ 
nesday morning the weather though bright is somewhat colder, the 
thermometer in the City registering 38°. 
- The Weather in the North. —Thaw has, with an occa¬ 
sional slight frost in the morning, been continuous during the past 
week, but has as yet penetrated only a few inches into the soil. The 
days have been generally cold with N.B. winds. On Sunday the 
surrounding hills had another coating of snow, and there was a* 
threatening of more on Tuesday morning. Snowdrops are coming into 
bloom, and Auriculas have made a distinct start.—B. D., S. Perthshire, 
- Death of Mr. R. B. Laird. —It is with very deep regret 
that we have to announce the demise of this well known and highly 
respected horticulturist, which occurred on the 4 th inst. at the age of 
sixty-nine years. The deceased was a member of the firm of Downie 
and Laird of Edinburgh, and subsequently senior member of the old 
established house of Laird & Sinclair, Dundee. He was a man of 
the greatest geniality, and will long be remembered by gardeners and 
nurserymen throughout the kingdom. 
- Cooking Apples.— Mr. T. Francis Rivers has been testing the 
cooking qualities of certain Apples. From his records prior to last year 
we note that he found Belle de Pontoise and Calville Blanche excellent 
in February; Wadhurst Pippin, Gooseberry Apple, and Dumelow’s 
Seedling very good in March; but Rhode Island Greening insipid ; 
Calville St. Sauveur and Bramley’s Seedling very good in April ; 
Striped Beefing in May. Last October Rivers’ Codlin was found 
excellent, and it is equally good now. Bismarck is still in good cooking 
condition, but the flavour is insipid. 
- Death of Mr. Thomas Gadd. —Another gardener of the old 
school passed away on March 7th at the ripe old age of ninety-one. Mr. 
Thomas Gadd was well known in Sussex, he having been a large prize- 
taker at the Brighton and other large horticultural shows. He filled 
some important situations in the county, the last twenty-seven years of 
his work being at Denne Park, near Horsham. In March, 1876, exactly 
nineteen years ago, he was allowed to retire on a substantial pension, 
kindly granted him by his employers, Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Eversfield, by 
whom he was much respected.—H. H. 
- Electro-culture. —The members of the Wolverhampton 
Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society met recently, when an inter¬ 
esting lecture was delivered by Mr. G. W. Fairall on electro-culture. 
The lecturer, in order that his hearers might better understand the sub¬ 
ject, gave a brief yet clear and sufficient survey of the history and 
progress of electricity, emphasising the notable developments made in 
its application to industry and art. Coming to the subject of the 
lecture, and dealing with it exclusively, the lecturer, himself a success¬ 
ful horticulturist, stated that so far back as ten years ago he had made 
experiments on Lettuces, Tomatoes, and other vegetables with the object 
of ascertaining the value of electricity as an agent in the cultivation of 
plant life. Although the results of his own experiments were eminently 
satisfactory, as also those of other and more favoured investigators, it 
would be unwise to generalise too prematurely on the value and extent 
of that form of assisted cultivation. Scientists, the lecturer said, were 
never justified in asserting, generally and positively, conclusions arrived 
at by the examination of single or few cases under certain and limited 
conditions. The lecturer dealt in detail with his experiments, and said 
that electricity could be applied successfully in many cases to the culti¬ 
vation of plant life, and his position with regard to electro-culture was 
one of hope for the future, although as yet sufficient and satisfactory 
data were not known to enable one to generalise with freedom. 
