238 
FLORICULTURAL HINTS. 
When this is brought home, it should be placed under shelter, 
and as opportunity offers, a vigorous search for insects should 
be made; and by remembering that the accidental escape of a 
single grub may prove the death of one or more of the most 
esteemed varieties, much of the tediousness of the operation in 
looking through the heap a single handful at a time will be 
obviated, and the same recollection will give nerve to the more en¬ 
thusiastic to attempt a second, examination. The pots commonly 
known as large sixties, measuring about four inches across the 
mouth, are generally used, and are abundantly large enough for a 
pair of plants ; but as it is also usual to put three plants into each 
blooming pot at the spring shifting, the present may as well be 
made a preparatory measure, and to save the risk of tearing the 
roots in the separation of the odd plants, I would advise three 
to be put into a forty-eight pot, or those a size larger than the 
first mentioned, a greater number of plants will thus be stowed in 
the same space, and when wanted for repotting, it is only necessary 
to transfer the entire ball, and thus not a fibre need be injured. 
The custom of selling these plants in pairs, is to me unin¬ 
telligible, for two are too many for twenty-four-sized pots, and 
not enough to fill a sixteen, the usual size for blooming in. A 
knife with a long flat haft, is the most useful instrument that can 
be employed in separating the layers, and after removing the 
surface mould and pegs so as to come at the buried stems, they 
should be detached about half an inch beyond the point of the 
tongue, and carefully lifting the roots with the knife handle, the 
whole mass should at once be placed in the pot intended for it; 
a week’s nursing in a frame will assist their reestablishment, and 
after that a very free admission of air must be given to harden 
them preparatory to meeting the winter. 
It will be well, as a precaution against early frosts, to cover the 
earth round the stems of dahlias to a distance of a foot, with 
three or four inches of loose mulch ; but it will be well to leave 
the roots in the ground as long as possible, that they may have 
the benefit of the descending sap and become properly matured. 
Those roses which were budded in summer, and have grown 
since, should have their new branches securely tied to a stick, or 
they are liable to be blown completely out of the stock. Trans¬ 
planting may now be' done w ith greater success than at any other 
