PROPAGATION. 
91 
After the graft has been tied, a piece of fine clay, su ii as is used 
for common grafting, must be placed round it; then pot the root in 
fine mould in a pot of such a size as will bury the graft half way in 
the mould; place the pot in a little heat in the front of a cucumber or 
melon frame, if you chance to have one in work at the time; the front 
is to be preferred, for the greater convenience of shading and watering 
which are required. A striking glass may be put over the graft, or 
not, at pleasure. In about three weeks, the root should be shifted 
into a large pot, if it be too soon to plant it in the border, which will 
probably be the case, as the plant cannot go out before April or May, 
so that the shifting will be very essential fo promote its growth till 
the proper season of planting out shall arrive. 
Treatment of Slips .—The shoots having been carefully separated from 
their parent tuber, they are immediately placed in thumb pots, filled 
with light soil, not inserting each more than an inch deep; when this 
is done, the pots are plunged in the hot bed. When they have filled 
these small pots with roots, they are shifted into others, which may 
serve them until the time for planting, unless that be protracted by 
unfavorable weather; in which contingency it will be desirable to 
remove them again into a size larger, to allow the roots to grow more 
freely, and to prevent their becoming a close and compact mass, which 
would be highly detrimental to their vigorous development, and the 
future health of the plant, when consigned to the open ground. 
Numerous shoots are emitted from the same tuber in succession, and 
these are treated in precisely the same manner when arrived at the 
proper length. They must be shaded from the. sun while making 
roots, and protected from vapor and frost. The best compost for the 
Dahlia in pots is a mixture of sifted decayed hotbed dung, light 
virgin loam, and pure white sand, in equal quantities. 
Situation and Preparation of the Soil. 
The natural habitat of the Dahlia is, we are informed, in a rather 
light soil and on open plains. English cultivators recommend a shel¬ 
tered situation; that is, sheltered from high winds, which break and 
shatter their lateral branches, however much they may be strength¬ 
ened and supported by stakes; yet fully exposed to the sun, and 
where they can have the advantage of a free circulation of air T the soil 
