ON THE CULTURE OF THE DAHLIA. 
31 
On the Culture of the Dahlia. —In looking over the last 
number of the Register, I found a few remarks on the Dahlia worthy 
of notice. Before making any observations on the subject, I beg leave to 
state that there is a custom prevalent among the growers of that flower, 
to choose a particular spot for its cultivation, and beyond the limits of 
which it is but sparingly seen. The same spot is annually prepared 
with old hot-bed manure, or with some other compost, as convenience 
may suit; and as such situations are well chosen for seeing the flowers 
together, and to the best advantage, it should always be properly pre¬ 
pared for their reception, and for this special reason — a dahlia should 
never he grown twice in the same kind of soil. The plant delights in 
fresh maiden loam ; and if the old spot be annually chosen for the col¬ 
lection, the soil should consist of at least two-thirds new soil, digged in 
two spades deep, and well mixed with the old. This is necessary for 
the plant, in order that the roots may have scope to descend in quest 
of moisture, so essentially necessary to bring their numerous flowers to 
perfection. Two advantages are the consequence of this extra labour ; 
first, dry weather does not much affect them; and, second, the flowers 
are more perfect, as well in size as in colour. I would also recommend 
that, when dahlias are planted in borders, or in clumps of shrubbery, 
they be well covered from the rays of the sun, which is liable to scorch 
and injure the roots; the covering, moreover, assists to bring forth a 
profusion of bloom. 
Chelsea , 14 th December . Andrew Walker. 
P. S. The following are a list of the best dahlias cultivated by 
myself and an eminent grower in my neighbourhood : — 
Lord Derby 
Willmot’s Superb 
Forester 
Metropolitan Blush 
Fisherton Rival 
Beauty of Camberwell 
-Perfection 
Spring-field Rival 
Gloria Mundi 
-— Calypso 
Queen of Dahlias 
Bride of Abydos 
Solomon 
Veitch’s Adelaide 
Cedo nulli 
Purpurea elegans 
Claude Lorraine 
Coronet 
Bishop of Winchester 
Sir Francis Burdett 
Mrs. Wilkinson 
Granta 
Wells’ Aurea 
Elpliinstone’s Polyphemus 
Lilac Perfection 
Ariel 
Wells’ Polyphemus 
Lady Fordwich 
Westland Marquis 
Glory 
Plat’s Clio 
Grandis 
Sir Robert Peel 
Vandyke 
Rubra compacta 
Othello 
Richardson’s Janus 
Jackson’s Rival 
Perfection 
Wells’ Lady of the Lake 
Highland Hero 
Venosa 
Alba grandiflora 
Lady Anne 
Hermione 
Lady of Oulton 
Richardson’s Emma 
Hon. Mrs. Harris 
Wells’ Enchantress 
Cock’s Invincible 
