REVIEWS. 
hollow stem, and consequently, the crown being absent no buds can 
possibly be developed by any subsequent treatment. It is, therefore, 
important, if the perpetuation of the plant be required, that the buds 
be not removed.” 
Besides these rules for the propagation of the plant, very full direc¬ 
tions are given for its subsequent management in planting out, staking, 
pruning, taking up the tubers, and storing, &c. &c., for which we must 
refer to the work itself. We cannot omit, however, giving one more 
extract relative to the comparative merits of a perfect flower. “ The 
flower should be erect, and stand completely above the foliage; for if 
the peduncle be short, so that the flower be hidden among the leaves, 
it will not be displayed to advantage. 
“ Form, colour, and size, are considered the essential properties of a 
fine dahlia. 
“ 1. Form .—All good judges allow that perfection in form consists in 
the near approach to a hemisphere. The Springfield Rival may be 
given as an instance of the nearest approximation to a perfect flower : 
it is, however, too flat in the centre, and the outer petals are reflected 
It is essential that the outline should form a true circle, and conse¬ 
quently, the petals should be regularly disposed, rounded, smooth at 
the edges, or rose-leaved, and slightly concave, but not so much so as 
that the back of the petals should be seen in front. Those flowers, 
whose petals are narrow-pointed, notched, or fringed, as well as those 
that are flat, or convex—however desirable for the flower border—are 
objectionable as show-flowers; as are also those which, when fully 
blown, exhibit the eye or disk. In some dahlias the petals, near the 
centre, converge and conceal the disk, which when the flowers are 
fully expanded becomes exposed : these are, therefore, pronounced by 
florists imperfect flowers. 
“2. Colour .—As regards colour much depends upon taste; but seifs 
(i. e. flowers of one colour) of whatever colour they may be, should 
be bright and distinct. In striped, spotted, tipped, or variegated 
varieties, the colours should be well defined, and every petal uniformly 
and distinctly marked. Those that are pounced, blotched, variously or 
irregularly marked, are inadmissible as show-flowers. 
“3. Size .-—-When other properties are equal, size will determine the 
preference ; but in judging of a good dahlia, form must have the pre¬ 
eminence, then colour, and lastly, size: bu tin no instance should either 
form or colour be sacrificed to size. The relative proportions of excel¬ 
lence in these criteria have thus been estimated : form three, colour 
two, size one.”—These proportions have been fixed by the censors of 
the Metropolitan Florist’s Society. In short, the book contains, we 
vol. v.—NO. lviii. 
X 
