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ON THE CULTURE OF THE DAHLIA. 
may be is uncertain, and neither is there now so much occasion for the 
practice ; because such are the vast variety of roses yielding dowers at 
many different seasons, that a garden need never be destitute of roses, 
especially if different periods of pruning them be attended to. 
But there are other shrubs, besides rose-trees, of which the flowering 
season may be protracted, to the great enrichment of the flower-garden. 
Both the Laurustine , and Althea frutex may be so managed as to 
produce their flowers at unusual seasons. The first, instead of flower¬ 
ing in the very early spring, may be, by removal, made to flower in 
autumn or late in the spring. The latter by the same means may 
have their flowering delayed till autumn. Several other shrubs, as the 
different varieties of the Cytisus and others, may be susceptible of such 
management by the knife or spade as may cause them to yield a suc¬ 
cession of flowers, making them doubly valuable as ornamental plants. 
We would beg to call the attention of our readers to this subject as one 
which has not engaged their thoughts so much perhaps as it deserves. 
ON THE CULTURE OF THE DAHLIA. 
BY G. T. DALE, WIRKSWORTH, DERBYSHIRE. 
This class of plants is one of the most beautiful in the world ; 
indeed we may truly call it magnificent. It possesses also decided 
advantages over most other flowers, not only as regards the great 
variety and brilliancy of its colours, from the most glaring scarlet 
to the delicate pencil work, but also in the length of time it continues 
to bloom ; as well as the great facility with which it may be propagated. 
I am induced to make a few observations on the culture of the 
Dahlia, because I believe nine out of every ten are treating their plants 
in a manner contrary to their nature. Nearly all the growers of this 
plant tell me it is of the same nature as the potato, and consequently 
must be cultivated in a similar way. That it is of the same nature 
I deny; but even granting this, certainly they have a different object 
in view in growing a flower to what they have in growing a tuber. 
In most gardens we see the plant grown to a large size, indeed often so 
large that it requires all the support of rich land, and often large 
quantities of manured liquor as well. This, to me, seems decidedly a 
wrong method of growing the Dahlia. I should say the smaller you 
have the root and the less top you have, the better will be the flower 
both as to colour and form. 
Though I do not for a moment suppose but that great improvement 
may be made in the method I am about to lay down, yet the bes 
