THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
ed 
I, very gorgeous. 
MINIATURESUNFLOWER, STELLA 
Dahlias may be planted at sny timo 
convenient. Take care that the tubers 
have a portion of the crown to each, 
otherwise they will rot grow. Dahlias 
are propagated by division of the tubers, 
but care must be taken that there isa 
bud present at the base of the stem and 
at the upper end of the tuber ; the latter 
without a bud isof no value. Profes- 
sional growers of these popular plants 
prefer stock raised from cuttings to that 
raised by division ; but glass and heat 
are necessary to ensure success y the 
latter method. The cuttings must be 
taken off whilst still quite small, planted 
in small pots filled with sand and then 
placed in a hotbed or glass-house under 
a bell-glass. Dahlias are easily raised 
from seeds, and if these be sown now ina 
warm frame the resultant plants will 
bloom in the autumn. A deep rich soil 
of a loamy character suits these plants 
best, but they can be made to grow in 
almost any kind of soil. A stiff heavy 
clay is most unsuitable, but this even 
could be ameliorated by adding plenty of 
horse-dung wood ashes, refuse from the 
rubbish-heap, &c., while a very light soil 
could be improved by the addition of a 
little stiff loam or even clay. These 
popular plants may be grown in a 
shrubbery or flower borders but if really 
fine blooms are wanted they should be 
planted in beds by themselves, where 
they may be watered, manured, and 
generally better attended to. There are 
many different classes of dahlias, but 
those of the cactus section are the most 
popular, the blooms being more useful 
when cut, and the colours of them being 
The variety known as the cactus dahlia 
is one of the best to plant, and is coming 
into great favour. Single varieties, also, « 
are very pretty, and are well worth grow- 
ing. Some of the striped kinds are 
remarkably good. 
Plant out balsams and any other 
tender kinds of plants which you may 
have raised. The balsam needs a rich 
warm soil to enable it to come to the 
greatest perfection. It needs also plenty 
of space in which to grow. 
Do not forget to put in a few scarlet 
Salvias and a few Celosias. The first 
mentioned is a shrubby little plant 
varying in height from 9 in. to 2 ft. 
according to the variety; it grows very 
easily and flourishes well in the summer, 
provided it gets an occasional watering. 
The foliage is of a refreshing green, and 
at the point of extremity of each shoot is 
produced a spike of bloom of an intense 
crimson or scarlet shade : this spike keeps 
on blooming for a few weeks, and when 
in full bloom the plant is one blaze of 
_color and very etlective. * It is easily pro- 
pagated by seed or by cuttings of the 
young growths placed in sand. Seed- 
lings and plants can be procured from 
any nurseryman at acheap rate, so that 
the plant is accessible The 
to all. 
GLOBOSUS FISTULOSUS. 
These are the finest of double Sunflowers 
with grand globular flower heads, saffron 
in hue. . 
November 2, 1908 
oy & \ 
CACTUS SUNFLOWER, ORION, 
showiest varicties to grow are ‘ Glory of 
Stuttgardt,’ ‘Inyeneuer Clavenaud,’ and 
‘ Bonfire.’ 
Celosias, or featherell cockscombs, also - 
make a magnificent show in masses or in- 
other plants. The 
flower spikes are born in great abundance 
on low bushy plants, and resemble in 
appearance an ostrich feather. In this 
respect they vary from the old flat or 
curved cockscombs which presents rather 
a heavy ungainly appearance, whilst the 
Celosias are very graceful. 
termingled with 
The colors 
vary from pure white to deep purple, 
whilst the yellow is represented in several 
shades. Sow from seed in light sandy 
soil: at this time of the year they could 
safely be sown iu the open. 
Tuberous should now be 
showing fuliage if potted earlier in the 
season. Should this be the case gradually 
give them more water and occasional 
watering with liquid manure will do th:m 
no harm. Where the. bulbs have not 
been potted pot up at one in small pots 
Begonias 
"in a loose, sandy mixture of sharp sand, 
composit, and well-rotted manure, but 
gee that pleuty of drainage is placed at 
the botom of the pots. For drainage 
broken charcoal is very good, as it helps 
to purify the soil. Give very little 
water at first. gradully increasing the 
supply as the leaves expand. When the 
pot is filled with roots turn the plant into 
a larger pot, pressing the new soil firuily 
around the ball of roots, and feed up. 
well with liquid manure. 
