268 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL, 
nected by a crown, which is perennial in the sending up of stems; 
and no part of the root will produce a plant, unless it contains a 
portion of this crowm,—there being no vitality in the other parts 
of the root, whatever may be their number and size. Dahlias 
are not, like the potato, cultivated for the sake of their roots, 
although these are esculent, but much less farinaceous than even 
the most inferior varieties of the potato. No attention appears to 
have been paid to the root culture of Dahlias, although it is highly 
probable, that, with proper care, they might become substitutes 
for or additions to the potato, especially as the food of domesti¬ 
cated animals. No doubt, the whole of the large fleshy roots -with 
crowns are less substantial and less nourishing than potatoes ; but 
there is no knowing how far cultivation for the sake of its roots 
might improve the Dahlia, as the potato itself in its natural state 
is insignificant, and hardly edible. 
Though a rather clear and dry atmosphere is favourable to the 
Dahlia in its growing season, especially when the temperature 
sinks to about the freezing point ; yet occasional showers do it 
no harm, even though they are frequent and heavy. This is the 
case with all thick fleshy or tuberous roots, only it is necessary 
that they should have good drainage, so that the water may not 
stagnate about them. Watering, though copious and frequent, 
agrees with them ; but they do not thrive well if they are soaked. 
We might infer this from the climates and soils which are native 
and natural to them, especially the Dahlia, and those others of the 
table land of Mexico. From the lofty hills, many of them rising 
above the limit of perennial snow, which intersect that table land 
in chains, or spot it with detached cones, the upper atmosphere is 
always in a disturbed state, or liable to be disturbed by very 
slight causes ; and though the plains are dry and burned up every 
season, in the intervals of the regular rains, there are violent 
showers which thoroughly drench the roots of the plants for a 
time ; but from the great evaporation and the porous nature 
of the soil, these speedily evaporate, or are drained off through the 
subsoil,—indeed, through a very great depth of the strata, for 
these are so rent and shattered by volcanic action, that much of 
the rain which falls upon them, finds its way in underground 
channels, and in some places, wells-up through a considerable 
depth of the sea, in such quantity, as that buckets-full of it may 
be lifted fresh at the surface. 
