440 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
liquid, rest assured that the uxass of earth is very dry, and 
I j us t allow the plant to remain in the water for a short time 
after all air bubbling has ceased. The only likelihood of 
deception in such a case is when the drainage is perfect, 
and the compost has been packed among the roots loosely 
and openly; but even in such a case, though the water will 
drive out the air, no danger will accrue, because what is 
superfluous will soon pass away. After such a setting in 
water no liquid should for some time be allowed to remain 
in the saucer. Many a fine plant has thus been saved that 
otherwise would have been lost from careless watering. 
When the ball is thus thoroughly wet future waterings will 
always pass readily through it until its interior is allowed 
again to become dry. Hence another sign of internal dry¬ 
ness. If the water given soaks rapidly away without escaping 
at the sides of the pot, rest assured there is nothing wrong 
with the interior of the ball as respects moisture. If 
the water stands on the surface and does not sink readily 
i there is reason for believing that the pot wants a good 
J ducking in a pail or tub. When there is a regular down¬ 
pouring from a thunder storm there is less danger of a 
flood if the ground was previously wetted, because then it 
sinks in easily. When it falls on dry ground it cannot get 
in, and must run as it can along the surface. The air must 
be displaced before the water can get in. 
There is just another reason why your plants may flag, 
and yet the soil be moist enough, which you will find some¬ 
what explained under the paragraphs on Respiration, Per¬ 
spiration, and Shading. The roots may be inactive from 
several causes, such as fresh potting. The whole system 
of the plant may have been languid from a continuance of 
dull, cloudy weather; the sun bursts forth in all its bril¬ 
liancy; there are greater demands made upon the leaves 
than the roots can in their torpid state properly meet; and 
in such a case, when the soil is moist enough, instead of 
deluging it with more water, the proper plans to adopt 
are, removing the plant further from the sun, shading, or 
sprinkling the foliage with water until the reciprocal action 
between roots and leaves is restored. R. Fish. 
{To be continued.) 
THE DAHLIA AND ITS CULTURE. 
( Continued from page 425.) 
CHOICE NEW DAHLIAS. 
]. Cardinal (Skynner).—A line variety, well formed, 
well up in the centre, very constant colour, very bright 
scarlet ; one of the best of its class; averages three feet. 
2. Cherub (Holmes).—A very excellent variety of a 
new' and delightful colour, a beautiful bright, light 
orange yellow, very distinct; a deep-petaled flower and 
very constant, and has received several first-class prizes; 
averages four feet. 
3. Duchess of Beaufort (Bush).—Blush white, tipped 
and edged with dark purple; a really fine variety, of good 
form, very full in the centre, and constant; averages 
four feet. 
4. Lady Popham (Turner).—One of the best Dahlias 
of its class ever raised; white, delicately tipped with 
lavender; form excellent, and has received many first- 
class prizes ; averages four feet. 
5. Lord Cork (Wheeler).—Crimson purple; well up 
in the centre; deep petaled and constant; very fine; 
averages three feet and a half. 
0. Midnight (Fellowes).—A noble show flower of fine 
form; colour dark maroon; nearly black, edged with 
light purple; a conspicuous variety in any stand; ave¬ 
rages three feet and a half. 
7. Mont Blanc (Fellowes).—Excellent form and well¬ 
shaped petals; colour pure white, never changing till 
the flowers drop ; this will prove a great acquisition; 
averages four feet and a half. 
8. Mrs. Edwards (Summers). — Colour a delicate 
peach lilac; well formed, neat in outline, and full; 
averages throe feet and a half. 
GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, March 31, 1857. 
9. Mrs. Turner (Church).—Colour quite novel—fawn, 
with yellow at the bottom of each petal; full and con¬ 
stant ; averages four feet. 
10. Boland (Bush).—A well-formed and constant 
variety ; colour a striking white, heavily tipped with 
crimson purple ; averages four feet. 
11. Royal Scarlet (Keynes).—One of the best of its 
class; colour a rich crimson scarlet; deep in petal aud 
well up in the centre; averages three feet and a half 
12. Touchstone (Fellowes).—A great improvement on 
that fine variety Mr. Seldon, having broader petals; 
colour a light rosy purple; blooms early; averages 
three feet and a half. 
(From 7 s. 0 d. to 10s. 6 d. each.) 
CHOICE OLDER VARIETIES. 
1. Amazon (G. Holmes).—White, with a heavy tip of 
crimson lake ; three feet and a half. 
2. Annie Rawlings (Rawlings). — Clear lilac, good 
form, aud medium size; a neat flower ; three feet. 
3. Capt. Ingram (Stein).—Dark crimson; full size; 
good form ; two feet. 
4. Col. Windham (Turner).—Excellent form aud con¬ 
stant habit; colour a deep rose with bronze tip; two 
feet and a half. 
5. Eclipse { Wheeler).—A very useful flower; deep in 
petal and constant in habit; colour very dark purple; 
three feet aud a half. 
6. Empress (Procter).—White, delicately shaded with 
lilac; a good, useful variety ; three feet. 
7. Lord Palmerston (G. Holmes).—This variety has 
every good property; colour a deep crimson scarlet ; 
centre compact and full; every grower ought to procure 
this variety ; four feet and a half. 
8. Grand Sultan (Turner).—Nearly black, sometimes 
shaded with crimson; form good; a good exhibition 
variety; four feet. 
9. Mrs. Wheeler (Wheeler).—Colour a deep rich scar¬ 
let ; a fine variety ; four feet and a half. 
10. Pre-eminent (Fellowes).—Rich deep purple; full 
and constant; three feet. 
11. Quern of Whites (Bush).—Will struggle hard with 
Mont Blanc or any other pure white variety ; a dwarf, 
desirable variety ; two feet. 
12. Rachel Rawlings (Keynes).—Pale peach; full and 
constant; four feet. 
13. Robert Bruce (Bush).—A full and constant flower 
of a good orange colour ; three feet. 
14. Sir F. Bathurst (Keynes). — A really good old 
variety; few can surpass it when well grown; colour a 
rich crimson; three feet. 
15. Yellow Beauty (Turner).—A free, graceful bloomer; 
full and constant; of the brightest yellow colour, which 
is very persistent; a truly fine and desirablo variety; 
four feet. 
(From Is. to 2s. 6 d. each.) 
NEW FANCY DAHLIAS. 
These oddly-coloured varieties have now as fine forms I 
and other good properties as the self varieties. They 
are, indeed, more valued by amateur growers than the 
other classes, on account of their new and singularly- 
combined colours. I have selected a few of the best 
new varieties. 
1. Cleopatra (Salter). — Orange yellow, distinctly 
striped with crimson scarlet; a bright new variety; I 
constant and vei'y double ; height four feet. 
2. Carnation (Keynes). — White, distinctly striped j 
with purple; a new variety in colour; petals well j 
formed, full, and constant; three feet and a half. 
3. Charles Perry (Keynes). — Ground colour rose, j 
suffused with red, and striped with maroon; good form; i 
four feet. 
4. Conqueror (Keynes).—Reddish blush, striped and 
