\ 
May 1, 190% 
eee neem aE ERR TE 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
foliage and rich reds and 
‘splendid 
yellows. Vieinyg with these are the great 
green leaves of the Aurums and their 
snow-white spathes. Holding its own 
amongst the cthers for luxuriance of 
foliage and beauty of flower is the 
Agapanthus, whose dainty sprays of pure 
white or of blue flowers stand up on their 
long stems to catch admiration. These 
beauties are singularly attractive, ard 
their value also lies in the power of 
vitality they possess to defy the withering 
elements of weather and sun As cut 
flowers for buttonholes or decorative — 
purposes they have few eqaals. Then 
there are the greit Daisy bushes, with. 
their profusion of clear white, looking 
charmingly cheerful amidst the wealth 
of green. In all this variety of foliage — 
there surely would be something missing 
if the Pampas (Gynerium) Grass were 
not in evidence. 
final touch of beauty, with the fine 
waving plumes of elegance, then which 
few things could look superior in such 
‘surroundings, 
But there it is, like a 
St. Vigeans.—Water Scene. 
Dahlia Seed. 
Mr. Ernest Baltet has published, in 
the Journal de la Ferme, an interesting 
article on Dahlia seed, from which we 
Avery important 
point in gathering the seeds is the 
selection of the plants; they must be 
free bloomers aud the flowers must be 
well formed and as nearly perfect as 
qnote the following : 
possible, but the color need not be con- 
sidered since it is not reproduced. Only 
a reasonable number of heads in seed 
must be left on each stalk. The first 
flowers are preferable, provided that they 
are fully developed. In order that the 
flower may receive the proper nourish- 
ment a part of the later buds on the 
stalk are clipped off and the remaining 
flowers are cut as soon as they begin to 
fade, every imperfect flower beingat once 
cast aside. The flowers so selected are 
then freed from surrounding lvaves, 
which would impede their full develop- 
ment. As they are ending the period of 
their bloom, the florets on the circum- 
— ~ SA 
23 
Pe be oars eu SORES 
ference must be removed from time to 
time, for as these form round the stem, 
they cause it to rot, making the seed drop 
before its maturity. It is difficult to 
tell the exact moment of the maturity of 
the seeds, but the flowers should be 
picked as soon as they change in color, 
otherwise the seeds might be lost, either 
by falling out when dry or by rotting in 
the rain. The flowers are then placed 
side by side in a single layer in an airy, 
dry and warm place, When they are 
well dried they are rubbed between the 
hands, causing the seeds to fall out. 
‘These seeds are hard and black and, to 
an inexperienced eye, often lack the 
kernel. We do not know whether the 
longest and least flat seeds give the 
fullest flowers, as is the case with zinnias 
and certain other species. This is a 
matter for experiinent. The clean seeds 
are put into sacks until the time for 
sowing. It need hardly be added that 
dehlia seeds are of value only for 
sewing with a view to obtaining new 
varieties. 
