THE FLORIST. 
*299 
Permit me, once for all, to state my conviction that it should be 
our aim, as cultivators of the Ranunculus, to prepare a soil which 
requires the least amount of assistance in artificial watering, and, at 
the same time, we should be prepared to administer occasionally a 
generous watering, ever accompanying it with judicious shading. 
Experimens. 
CYCLAMENS. 
In the early part of this year (see No. I. of The Florist , p. 8), I gave 
you a little article on the Cyclamen Persicum, detailing my mode of 
cultivation, by which I ensured its blooming freely. Mine are now 
just starting into growth after their season of rest, and look very 
promising. This makes the fourth year since they were last potted. 
I merely take the green surface off the top, replace it with a little 
fresh soil to give the pot and plant a neater appearance, and then 
place them on the greenhouse-stage for blooming. 
Worton Cottage, Isleworth. John Dobson. 
DAHLIAS. 
A FEW OBSERVATIONS ON THE BLOOM OF 1848, EXHIBITIONS, 
NEW VARIETIES, 
EXTRACTED FROM OUR NOTE-BOOK. 
The season just closed has been both long and good for Dahlias, 
from their having continued in bloom from the beginning of August 
until the latter part of October. We do not remember to have seen 
them shewn finer than we witnessed them on several occasions this 
season. The flowers w T ere of great depth and large, but we do not 
place much value on size, without quality, and substance of petal, 
arrangement of ditto, smoothness on the surface and edges, with a 
compact, high centre,—we have been gratified by seeing many such 
this season with the additional merit of a good full size. The flowers 
that have been sold out which particularly attracted our notice, w T ere 
Nonpareil, Black Prince, Marchioness of Cornwallis, Scarlet Gem, 
Yellow Standard, Mynn, Shylock, Marquis of Worcester, Louis 
Philippe, Andromeda, Captain Warner, Essex Triumph shaded. 
Princess Radziwill, Privateer, Beeswing, Queen of Roses, and Miss 
Vyse. 
The following have been exhibited in good condition, but not so 
frequently as the above, some not being generally out, others more 
or less uncertain : Gem, Richard Cobden, Berryer, Golden Fleece, 
Captivation, Box, Empress of Whites, Toison d'Or, Mrs. Anderson, 
The Hero, Lady St. Maur, Imbricata, Boule de Feu, and Crocus. 
The luxuriant growth caused by the rains in the summer v’as as 
