JANUARY. 17° 
plant them so as to cover the junction of the bud with the stock. I 
have reason to believe that Mr. Lane, of Berkhampstead, has not 
succeeded well with the Manetti stock. He, I think, tried it on his light 
but low-lying black soil, and on a very shallow soil resting on chalk,~ 
but in neither situation did it do well, so he has discontinued, as far as 
I know, its cultivation to any great extent. Mr. L. has not however, 
like his friend Mr. W. P., denounced it because he could not grow it. 
No, he is much too ’cute for that. I fully believe that it would have 
done well on those chalk hills near Berkhampstead, only the labourers 
did not like it, and so often gave it a sly kick; besides this, the Dog 
Rose stock has generally done so well with Mr. L, that he did not want 
it. With Mr. Francis it has been quite different. I fully believe that 
he never could have grown any decent dwarf Roses on his stony hills 
without the Manetti Rose stock. 
Like all things newly introduced either into commerce, agriculture, 
or horticulture, our Manetti stock has had, and still has, its opponents. 
Some of them should always bear in mind part of the old song— 
“‘ Remember when the judgment’s weak the prejudice is strong.” 
And they will plant it only in soils adapted to it, and, above all, take 
pains in its culture. 
Rosa SPINOSA. 
THE DAHLIAS OF 1859. 
THE varieties sent out last spring have no doubt taken their places, and 
have been approved or condemned, according to their merits, by those 
who grew them. Yet, as there are many who do not add new varieties 
to their collections before the second season, a summary of the best, as 
they appeared to us from growing several plants of a kind, may be 
useful to those who have not seen much of them at the exhibitions, or 
growing. . 
Generally, 1859 was a good season for Dahlias, and a long one, 
therefore any good qualities they might possess could be ascertained. Of 
selfs we shall retain ten only, at the head of which stands the best 
Dahlia of any year, namely Chairman, which is a magnificent show 
flower. ‘The others are Emperor, Golden Drop, Charles Waters, John 
Dory, Pioneer, Disraeli, Mentor, Lord Eversley, and Rosebud. In 
fancies seven may be grown again. They are Comus, The Flirt, Mrs. 
Charles Kean, Jessie, Leonora, Dandy (rather small), and Madame 
Alboni, good form, but scarcely sufficient tip to make it effective. 
From the continent not one has appeared in 1859, self or fancy, that 
can be introduced to a select collection. Triomphe de Pecq, however, 
of 1858, maintains its position as the finest dark Dahlia. It is late in 
blooming. but very true_in character. One of the best stands of 24 
we saw staged for competition in 1859 was at Reading. This collection 
contained five of the new varieties above named, viz , Emperor, Mentor, 
Pioneer, Lord Eversley, and Chairman. There were also seven seed- 
lings, which we shall most likely have to notice in a future number. 
VOL. XIV., NO. CXLY. c 


