THE FLORIST. 
119 
One prevailing error respecting their culture is, that they are apt 
to deteriorate, and the double ones after a time to turn single. This 
is not the case as far as my experience goes ; I never knew first-rate 
flowers grow worse, I mean in form and colour. They seldom bloom 
so well the first year after dividing the roots, as they require longer 
time to establish themselves. We had some plants which had been 
standing on the same ground a great many years, and I never saw 
any finer than they were last season. The cultivation of the Holly¬ 
hock is comparatively easy ; they will grow in almost all soils and 
situations, of course not equally well. 
The Dahlia requires five times more attention and trouble than 
this flower; indeed, in some soils it is a very long-lived plant. 
I hope I shall be able to send you a few blooms to look at in the 
season; and perhaps in some future number of The Florist I may 
give you some hints on their cultivation, from my own experience, if 
you consider them worth your acceptance. 
Saffron Walden. Wm. Chater. 
BLINDS AND SHADES FOR GREENHOUSES. 
All the houses that are to be filled with flowering plants should have 
blinds prepared for them, as upon the exclusion of the bees depends 
the continuance of many florists’ flowers. Nothing for this purpose is 
superior to the article here figured. It is to be bought at about 3 } 2 d. 
per yard, and of sufficient width to cover the front-sashes of any 
greenhouse. Its advantages are, the admission of plenty of air and 
light, and the exclusion of bees and the green-fly; for experience has 
convinced us, that although the meshes are much larger than the 
latter insect, they rarely, if ever, enter the house through them. 
Some cover light wooden frames with this material, and fit them to 
replace the front-lights: our plan is, to secure it in one length, by 
means of tape tacked at the top and bottom ; this does not interfere 
with the sliding in or out of the front-sashes. Light wooden frame 
doors, covered with cheese-cloth, should be prepared to supply the 
place of the glass ones; also a roller-blind of the same material to 
cover the top, with a curtain to hang at the front; and when these 
are all supplied, the greenhouse is furnished as every one filled with 
fiowers ought to be. 
