buds. The only detraction from these 
valuable running Roses is their want of a 
perpetual flowering character, so that, of: 
course, they are not comparable to the Teas 
and Noisettes, but there is this to be ‘said, 
of them—they appear to be exempt from. 
mildew, and spring frosts do not harm 
them ; at least, that is my experience of the 
Rose under notice, and also of Jersey 
Beauty. I would particularly recommend 
Gardenia as a pillar Rose and for the sup- 
ports of a lofty pergola where it will re- 
ceive plenty of sun. This and Jersey 
Beauty are much too good to be planted 
where perhaps they will not receive that 
attention which their merits entitle them 
to. If a position could be prepared after 
the style of that at Kew, then I would say 
plant thesé two freely. _In this dell garden 
many loads of really good soil were placed 
before a Rose was planted, which explains 
why the Crimson Rambler and;other glo- 
rious kinds are in such a flourishing con- 
dition.—Rosa. 
THE DAHLIA. 
No other garden. flower has been more 
improved upon of late years than the Dah- 
lia. From the old stiff forms and dull colors 
have been evolved ever new and eraceful 
varieties and dainty tints. a ‘ 
Introduced over one hundred ‘years ago, 
a Dahlia speedily became a favorite. The 
form then was almost a perfect ball, and 
the more spherical and artificial 1t was, 
the higher it was prized. Gradually, how- 
ever, it lost favor and was looked on asa 
coarse, stiff flower of little value and seldom 
cultivated. Since the new Cactus Dahha 
came this has all been changed. The old 
stiff forms have given way to loose, fan- 
tastic shapes. New irregular and esthetic 
varieties now originated and being intro- 
duced have redeemed the Dahlia and made 
it the most popular garden: flower grown. 
Hundreds of Dahlia Societies have been 
formed in England and in’ the Hastern 
‘States ; also in Germany. The name Cactus 
Dahlia, which was given them because of 
their fancied resemblance to the: flowers 
of the Gactus, has been replaced by the 
title of Edel, or Noble Dahlia. Every con- 
ceivable color and shade of color, from 
pure white to almost black, is now re- 
presented, and besides its gorgeous tints and 
splendid colors the chrysanthemum appears 
dull‘and faded. The best of the new varie- 
ties are Segfried and Lord Roberts, 
white; Mrs. J. J. Crowe and Mrs. Saun- 
ders, yellow ; 
son, dark maroon, almost black 5 Standard 
Bearer and Star Fish, bright scarlet; J. 
W. Wilkinson and Flamingo. intense 
erimson; Rosine and Lord Brassey, pink ; 
Countess of Lonsdale and Clara G. Stred- 
wick, salmon shaded to yellow ; Britannia, 
shrimp pink; Ruby, intense ruby, red 
tipped magenta ; Alpha, white spotted and 
splashed with purple and red; Innovation, 
scarlet tipped, pure white. The noble and 
fantastic shapes of the beautiful blossoms 
attract and charm. the spectator; and 
~many, very many, who hitherto only des- 
Uncle Tom and J. H. Jack-. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. | 
pised. the Dahha, have now’ become con+ 
verted to the Cactus: For San Francisco 
and vicinity they are among the very best 
bedding plants. The cool weather just suits 
their requirements, and the fog—so fatal 
to many other flowers—never hurts the 
bloom of the Dahlia. “Planted in March. 
they will bloom profusely and continuously 
from June till November. Any kind of 
soil suits them provided ‘it is moist and - 
rich. Plant the roots about six inchcs 
deep. When the shoots appear, break off 
all but one. When this has grown four 
or five inches high pinch out the top cr 
end—it will soon branch out—after which, 
fill in around the plant with well-rotted 
manure. Treated in this way they will 
grow strong and sturdy and resist high 
winds. In conclusion, I would advise to dis- 
bud freely, pinching out all the buds ex- 
cept one on each stem. The improvement 
in size and beauty of the blossom more 
than repays the extra trouble.. For exhr 
hibition flowers disbudding is indispen- 
sable. ~ 
FEEDING DAHLIAS. 
Tn, the matter of feeding dahlias the 
weather makes much difference, for in wet, 
cold weather very little can be done, 
whereas, if a hot, dry time sets in the 
grower is kept busy. In these days of high 
culture feeding has become almost as neces- 
sary in dahlia growing as it is with chry- 
santhemums. As soon as the plants are 
producing buds on their first strong main » 
stems, and before they have felt the strain 
of blooming, is the time to commence to 
feed, this is, of course, providing they are 
in such a state as to require water. T always 
start with a stimulant made from natural ~ 
manures, and find that on light soil nothing 
equals cow manure, although almost any 
manure with ammonia in it is very suit- 
able. After one or two waterings with 
this, if the plants are still able to take more, 
so far as moisture is concerned, give them 
stronger doses and extend the watering 
farther from. the main stem, not forgetting 
to water well underneath the plant, as the 
foliage sheds the rain, so that the soil near 
the stem. remains perfectly dry. 
As the first large flowers will now be 
opening, dahlias will need a good deal of 
feeding to satisfy them; 1b is, indeed, sus- 
prising what a healthy dahlia plant will. 
consume in the way of manures, and it: is 
probably this very fact that leads many 
amateurs with but few plants to pour an. 
excessive amount of liquid manure round, 
with the result that overlarge buds are 
formed, and when these open the flowers 
are found to be deformed, and divided into 
several centres. This extreme, however, 
need not be approached. Every time the 
dahlias need water, possibly two or even 
three times a week, some sort of manure 
should be given in it, and after the firsti 
waterings with natural manures, artificials 
may be used. Two gallons of water is a 
very fair amount to give each plant if at 
all dry, mere surface sprinklings being 
useless. Vary the diet, and when the 
February J, 1905 _ 
flowers seem. to needa little extra stimulant 
give:a dose of sulphate of ammonia. This 
latter, however, needs care, agit is’ very 
strong, though an excellent manure for 
filing out flowers ‘and stimulating the 
plant. 
It is certainly much. easier to feed dah- 
lias in comparatively dry weather than. im 
wet, but should it be wet, the plants may 
stilt rieed feeding in some degree, and the 
only way to do it is to sprinkle the dry 
manure on the surface of the soil and. let: it, 
wash in with the rain. Horse manure 
spread all over the ground is as good as 
anything in a wet season, as the goodness 
can filter down to’the roots. On the other 
hand, the plants will grow so much more 
foliage, and be enabled to get so much out 
ef the soil in wet weather, that it is not 
necessary to feed to anything like the ex- 
tent that is needed in summers like we have 
had for several years past. One thing is 
worthy of note, and that is not to delay 
feeding dahlias till a few days before fine 
flowers are wanted, and then begin to tny 
to rush out fine, deep blooms. The feed 
ing must commence early, 1.¢., when the 
buds are forming; heavy feeding when a 
flowers is ready to open may have the effect 
of pushing out a larger flower by length- 
ening the petals, but if the bud has not 
the required number of florets in it, a 
poor flower will result. 
In making these few remarks, I may 
mention that, the strength of the stimulants 
used must be governed by the grossness of 
the plants, and the habits of the individual 
varieties, bub in these matters the judg- 
ment of the growers must be brought into. 
play. 
J. HS. 
The Orchard. 
OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY. 
—— 
Operations for this month will keep the 
orchardist busy in body and mind, His body 
will have good exercise in keeping the cultivator- 
going amongst the portions of the ground where 
the trees are young. Irrigation is out of the 
question in most places, and the cultivator must 
he kept going to help the dry ground to retain 
what moisture it can underneath. His mind 
will be much exercised upon the return he wilt 
get from his frnif as the result of his years 
labor. Marketing is where a large numbor of 
fruitgrowers fail. 'They know how to get the 
fruit, but how to dispose of it is a phase of the 
pusiness where they lack training. This is diffi— 
cult to understand, and some day gardeners will 
perhaps rise to the fact that the business part of 
an orchard is very essential to profit and shou'd 
be learned early. fn tho first place every fruit 
should ke handled with the same care as eggs. 
There is a lot to Jearn in that, especially with the 
softer fruits. Sellers should know that fruit 
handled like coal will not find buyers. The 
second lesson is in grading and packing. The de- 
tails of making fruit ready for market seem to 
take a lob of time, but there is more money in if; 
