The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-14 00:00:00

CULTIVATION OF THE DAHLIA.

At the 4nee,ing of the Chelmsford Horticultural and
Fiona Society, held-at the Bell. Inn, on Tuesday even-
ing, Mr. T. Sorrell delivered an interesting lecture on
the history and cultivation of the dahlia. After some
introductory observations, he said—
The cultivation ti' the dahlia is a subject that has en
gaged the attention of many•and able hands, who have.
doubtless, given it the b nefit of their learning. Mine
will be a brief, but a practical illustration of the subject.
as it has fallen .under my notice. • I purpose to divide
the subject under the following heads :-1. Its introduc-
tion into this country. 2. The best method to adopt to
secure varieties. 3. The propagation of the plant from
cuttings. And, lastly, some general observations as to
the time of planting, the selection of the ground, the first
appearance of earviigs, and the dressing of flowers.
First, then, as to its introduction into this country.
Having l.r,dced with diligence into the various authori-
ties, I find none that give a more comet account, ac-
cording to my opinion, than Mr. Louden's Encyclopte
dia, in which he inform- us that its first appearance in
this country was about the. year 1;89, when, from igno
ranee of its culture, the stock wa, lost ; but through.
the perseverance of the late Lady Holland, some seed
was re-introduced to this country, from which we from
time to time have been making progress to perfection.
It is, perhaps, curious to the uninitiated how such ex
cellence could be arrived at, even to the present time ;
and I doubt not that even the standard, as laid down by
G. Glenny, may yet be attain,d by the same unremit
ting attention that numbers bestow upon their favourite
idol. In its natural stale, as found growing wild in the
sandy meadows of Mexic.), it will scarcely bear any
comparison with the beauty of the flower, as brought to
pefection by cultivation. It is there, as compared to
its beauty by attention and culture in this country, as
the oil Kiss-behind-the-garden-gate to the perfection of
the pansy.

I will now come to the next head—namely, the best
method to adopt to secure varieLit.s. In order to accom-
plish this, it is absolutely necessary that due caution
should h• used in the gathering of the seed; it is advis-
able that it should remain on the plant for its perfection
in growth until the ne.tr approach of frosts, previous to
which it should be cut and hung up in bunches, sheltered
from wet, until its appearance denotes its complete ripe-
ness; it should then be rubbed from the husk by th.
hand, and securely deposited until about the 20:h of
February, when it should be sown in boxes, placed in a
slight hot-bed, the more rapidly to proinoto vegetation;
it should then be gradually weaned ham the warmth,
and, when sufficiently hardened, transPerred to a cold
frame, and: about the middle of April nuty be pricked
out on some sheltered birder, protected by covering
from frost until the middle or latter end of May, at
which time a well-prepared bed should be inade for it,
reception. To perfect its bloom the plants should
b.
removed with a rk and trowel, with a ball of earth, te
prevent the influence of the sun having too great a hold
on the young plants, and in this, as in all other instance,
of dahlia culture, too great a supply of water can
scarcely be given. It only remains upon this head to
mention that those flowers possessing the required qui.a-

lities for multiplying the almost ',timberless good ono,
should be saved.

My next observations will apply to the third head— I
the propagation of the plant from cuttings; and as thee,
are many and various ways of proceeding with that
work, and as mist persons consider their own the best, I
shall give you mine, having found it the most success!ul.
If a large quantity of plants are required trom .one root,
it necessarily follows that the usual steps for that pur-
pose must be taken at a much earlier period than if only
a few were required; for a quantity I should say com-
mence potting your bulbs in January in good siz-,d pots,
so that there be as little mutilation of the tubers as
possible, then fill the vacuum with good rich compost.
composed of one part each well rotted dung, leaf m, uld,
maiden loam, and sea sand, allowing the crowns to b.
about the surface; plunge your pots t► the brim it,
bark tan, in a good strong bottom ; heat either in
cucumber frames, or other means which may be place,'
in your power. You will in a short time see the pro-
gress of vegetation by the swelling of the eyes, and con-
tinuing the heat you will soon have cuttings of sufficient
size to take ott; and as I am of opinion that a practical
performence will more accurately convey to your minds
the nature of the operation . than any observations
of mine, I now produce this plant, which I
have brought for the purpose, in order to show my
method. It is as follows :—Take up your plant, drink
moderately, and commence. After the cuttings are off.
they should be potted in the foregoing compost (heing
scrupulously particular as to your numbers, as nothing
tends more to dishearten an amateur than to have
wrong plants), and replace them in bottom heat for
striking, keeping them shaded, as occasion requires ;
after struck they may be repotted separately in sixty s
pots, and remain in cold frame until required for
planting,
Proceeding still further with this delightful subject
brings me to the last head—namely, the time of plant-
ing, &c. The time of planting should be deferred until
the middle of May, and I would here observe that it is
desirable not too hastily to commence, let our anxiety
be ever so great to take advantage of the almost unex-
ampled mildness of the season. It is possible, nay pro-
bable, that we may even yet meet with some severe
weather, which, if we are too eager, may blast our hopes
as well as our flowers, and deprive us of plants wi
fondly hoped would have realised our most cherished
ex!), etations.
In the selection of our ground, I maintain that it can-
not, under any circumstances, be of too rich a character.
nor the situation too unencumbered by trees, or other
crops of any description; and the arrangement of heights
and variety must depend upon the locality of the sp►t
selected by the growl r. The precise dir,ctiens upon this
point can be ascertained from the many and excellent
catalogues published by the various nurserymen, who
vote much valuable time in its arrangement for our
guidance. From the time of planting, the growth of the
plant will I.,rm an epoch in its history, as it must be pro
tested and sufficiently secured against strong winds; the
branches !ranted to stakes, but net unnaturally to mak-
its slipearance unsightly. At the first appearance of th,
earwigs, which are so destructive as to cause the greatest
damage in blooming season, indeed (instances are not
wanting where some growers have been unable to cut a
single good bloom, by reason of the ravages of this pest
ro the dahlia), they should be especially looked after and
killed; as it is a fact, resting on undoubted authority.
that the destruction of one at its first appearance ma)
destroy a whole host that would otherwise appear.
With regard to showing, I would merely observe upon
this head that every person who intends showing will
select his best blooms for that purpose, the arrangement,
for the same depending upon the flowers that he has,
I advise not too much artificial dressing of bloom:, as ii
not unfrequently tends to destroy, rather than improve,
'he flowers so treated.

THE GARDENSof CHATSWORTH

Chatsworth is one of the great places of the clay of
which it may be said that its proprietor is ',rime, and
its gardener a man of title. As a whole, its extent and
gem rill grandeur is unsurpassed by any English garden
that we know ; every department is constructed on a
vast and broad scale. We could point out other
gardens where some one department is carried out
with equal or even greater success than it is at Chats-
worth ; but if we take it in all its parts it has no rival.
If we refer to its scenery, it is grand and highly pictu-
resque, with thousands of acres advantageously seen bear-
ing the aspect f boundless wood and parklike ground.
throu4h the midst of which runs the meandering
gurgling. but pure and limpid trout stream, the Der-
went. Then there are its acres of Italian gardeni—

its terrace-walls, and raised, straight, and broad ter
race walks—its gushing waterfalls and fountains, send-
ing forth their p4rpendicular liquid columns to the
height of central hundred feet ; and the piles of rock-
work which have to be passed between the house and
the conservatory, which, as a work of art, is most pro-
digious. Next is the conservatory, which in magnitude
greatly surpasses all other conservatories which have
been built. By our mode of stepping we made tht
length about 282 feet, and the width 120 feet ; th.
height we do not remember, hut it is a few feet °vet
or under 50. It is surrounded by:a gallery, or pathway.
at the height of 25 feet, overi.mking the centre com-
partment of the house. Tho floor of the house it•
traversed by a boundary walk near the glass ; a straight
walk also passes through the centre from the extrem(
ends, and this is again crossed by another at the middy
of the house. The remainder is formed into earth-
beds, in which the ',Lays are growing. The tem-
perature is kept up by hot-water pipes surroundlng
the house, just within the outer wall ; and two under
gr..und trenches, each containing a series of pipes run.
niug parallel to each other the whole length of tht.
house. It will convey some idea of the magnitude of
this erection, when we mention that along one side,
for a short distance, is planted a hedge of Agave Ame-
ricana, or American aloes ; in another part, and con-
tiguous to the latter, is a grove of mandarin oranges ;
in another is an immense mass of rock-work, upon
which is constructed a pathway of rude steps, by
which the gantry, or balcony, 25 feet in height,
reached ; again. in another, a lake, a pool, or aquarium.
is constructed for gold fish, and the grove or water
plants ; then a grove of plantains, or muses, and in
another a natural group of palms, amAryllidae, &c..
planted in the border. Amongst the palms we noticed
an old acquaintance, and one of the finest plants in the
house, cocospluFnosa, now nearly 30 het high.—United
Gardeners' and Land 'Stewards' Jour,,al.

We read in the Droit, in a garret of No. 41, Rut.
Grenetat, lived a poor German wood turner, 59 years of age,
named Hunger. His only companion and friend was a dog,
to which he was much attached. Without being unsociable
in his nature, Hunger had little intercourse with his neigh-
bours, who, on either side, felt little interest for the miserable
condition of the poor workman. Two days ago, however, as
he had not made his appearance for several days, mey
knocked at his door, and, having no answer, applied to the
commissary of police, M. Bartlett. This gentleman came,
and forcing open the door, a dreadful sight presented itself'.
Hungar had suffocated himself with the fumes of charcoal,
and also his dog, which was dead in his arms. The follow-
ing paper, written a short time Wore bis death, was lying
near him :—" Que de &tins pour fifre, que to beine hour
mourir? Bour que mon chien ne reste bas abres moi, je lui
ai tonne aussi la mort. Atieu A ceux qui me trouferont ; la
mist re et une maladie incurable sont cause de ma mort."
GERMAN STUDENTS.—Some one calls out to you by
your name, if he happen to know it; if not, by the name of
your country, which he generally guesses with tolerable ac
curacy :—"Es kommt etuas ihnen," meaning,
something coming to you," raising his glass at tl,l.eos
time. lest you should not um de stand li"s bj •t. .
r beer, mina
e
a novice, you merely bow, and take a sp oty, uo
me._ _
ns coin-
ing it is all over; but the ceremony is byie".
to taste the
`Mete In the first place, you ought tiLit "Theriekmi:
prink
!" and then,
liquor at all, but you must bawl out
after the spfice of a few back again." Such
saying, "Es how nit v‘ruch"—`
to, b
not following it,
is the process, which it is welt to
at a stranger, you will un •
elthough offence is neva. taken
iniiiiit.es, return the complimt nt, by
character which, among the students,
that a blockhead—a
thiub:edly lose caste, end be set down for a "Munimeijunge,"
is treated wit Lb. contempt it nierits.—Lublin University
Afagatim.