32 
THE DAHLIA. 
necessary to wipe away the moisture from the interior of the 
glass, especially if it is a large one, lest the cuttings receive in¬ 
jury from drips of the condensed steam ; this they are very 
liable to, but as it is the only care requisite, no one fond of his 
charge will refuse it. They will be rooted in a fortnight more, 
and then should be gradually inured to a colder atmosphere. 
Successional cuttings will arise, and will require to be treated in 
the same manner; sometimes, from want of space, several cuttings 
will be inserted in the same pot, but on no consideration should 
more than one sort be thus put together, for some of them root 
more readily than others, and as they require to be potted sepa¬ 
rately as soon as they are struck, the remaining portion are in¬ 
jured by disturbing, and not unfrequently destroyed. 
The beginning of March will very likely be considered late to 
commence starting the roots, and doubtless it would be so for a 
commercial grower, who has his thousands to prepare, but for 
the amateur is quite early enough, for it is far better to have the 
plants in an active growing state up to the time of their removal 
to the open ground in May, than by getting them too forward, 
be obliged to continue them in pots till the roots become cramped 
and the plants stunted. Few of us have room to spare for them 
after they are placed in forty-eight sized pots, and many are 
troubled to accommodate them even then, and therefore- it is not 
advisable to begin too soon, for it must be remembered that up 
till the time when danger from frost is past, they must be pro¬ 
tected in cold frames. 
I have said nothing about keeping the names correct, because 
every one must be aware of the confusion any neglect in this 
respect creates; but I may mention, that where the necessary ac¬ 
commodation just mentioned, in the shape of hotbeds and frames, 
does not exist, dahlias may be managed by placing the roots in a 
warm place in the house about the beginning of April, and by 
moderately watering, induce them to start, when by splitting the 
tubers into pieces, with a shoot attached to each, plants may be 
had fit for the borders, at about the time it will be safe to place 
them there. 
Hortulanus. 
