The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-05-05


which are imported from Europe. The |
blooms Of the Dahlia are of almost ev-
cry imaginable color except blue. The |
self-cOlOred varieties are exceedingly |
brilliant. Some of the parti-colOred sorts
are very interesting freaks of nature,
producing three or four apparently dis
tinet varieties on the same plant.
have seen Dahlias planted on lawns and
in gardens, in holes cut in the sward,
scarcely large enough In which to
squeeze the roots, the grass and weeds
around them being suffered to have Tire
aseendaney; the consequent result in
such cases is, that few (if any blooms
will be produced. Would horticulture
ist so plant and 80 cultivate cabbages
and pumpkins, in expectation of sue
cessp Should the season prove favOTa-
bic the Dahlia will commence blooming
about the middle Of July, and will con
tinue until cut by frost. When the
nights commence getting cool the flow
ers are of longer duration and of finer
quality, with the exception of the ChTys-
anthemum, they are the latest and most
attractive fall flowers we have.
Among the qualifications necessary
to the development OF perfect Dahlla
are form, size and color. The form from
a front view should present an unbrO-
ken external perfect circle. There should
feet form of the petals, nor from the lack
of conformity in the shape or dispOsi-
| tiOn. Each petal should approach to a
| circular figure, without a tendency to
be acute or pointed, but perfectly round
at the extremity, and a little cOncaVe,
but not so as TO expose any part of the
under side Of it to view. Petals that are
nOtched, quilted, pointed, convex, or too
much cOncave, have no share in the tor
1 nf a RI
being of perfect uniform shape, the
petals should lay over the other In reg
ular order"
In some very free towering varieties
the disk or center is perceptibly open,
which (Of cOurse) renders the flower I'M
perfect. The color in all cases should
be clear in the self-cOlOred sorts, and
when particOlOred OF Variegated, their
cOlOrs should be distinctly striped with
out being mixed with the ground color,
which should also be clear Chat is), one
color should not mlngle with another,
but the boundary of each should be dis
tinet. AS To size, the larger the flower
the better, provided il has the essential
qualifications described, but generally
the most perfect flowers are of medium
| size.
The Dahlia, like all other plants, has
its enemies. 1t ID subject to the depre-
datiOns of many species of insects, of
which the red spider is the most de-
StructlVe, and 1t Is 30 minute as to be
| scarcely perceptlble to the naked eye. 1t
generally makes Its appearance during
a long season of dry, not weather, on
the under side of the leaves of the plant,
| and sometimes continues its raYages
until the entire plant ID destroyed; u
remedy for its determination is a cool,
rainy season of three or four successive
| days. Nearly all the species of insects
which attack the Dahlia are winged,
their habltatiOn ID generally among the
petals Ot the flowers, upon which they
feed) the most prominent is the striped
cucumber bug, very troublesome pest.
By examining the flowers early on a
| cool morning, when wet with dew, they
may be captured without much difficult
ty. The grasshOppers, besides other in
| sects, sometimes unite in the destruc-
ton Of flowers.
TO grow fine, perfect flowers, do not
plant tubers of inferior varieties; you
might with the same prOpriety expect
worthless apple tree TO produce the
best and finest quality of fruit.
After the plants have been injured by
frost let them remain in the ground as
| long as possible, in order to promote the
maJuTatlOn of the tubers.
AS SOOn as freezing weather cOmmen-
| ceS III not OefOTe), arrangements should
be made for their winter quarters. Cut
of the stalks a few inches above the
ground. Should they (tne stalks) be a
little frozen, 1t will not injure The tu-
6ers; dig them carefully, but not dur
| ing wet weather if it can be avoided; dry
them gradually in the shade few
days, after which store them
away in the cellar on the
ground, where they will not freeze. A
| good plan is to cover them with dry
sand or earth Of any kind, If kept too
warm they will be apt to shrlYel. Look
at them occasionally during the winter,
and remove any tubers which may have
decayed. They can remain IN the cellar
until the time for planting in the
| spFing. With proper culture and ia
VOrable season, the cultiVatOr may rea-
sOnably entertain the expectation of a
beautiful display of autumn flowers.
s. MEYERS.
Mrs. Lester stated that while there
has been an effort to produce double
varieties of Dahlias, yet the specialties of
leading florists are now single varieties.
Mr.. Myers prefers the double varieties,
\ Notwithstanding the fashion to the con-
trary; the single Dahlia reminds him
too much of the dog wood blossom.
q. W. Faust was appointed essayist
AOI buo uoAb meoIluB duu mEB. Lester as
alternate.
The bill Of $1.3S for postage for month
Of April approved and ordered paid, and
Secretary ordered to procure extra
| copies of proceedings as they may be
| needed to supply members.
AT the suggestion of Mrs. Lester, the
following committee was appointed to
superintend and arrange tables and
dinner at the strawberry festival: Mrs.
j. A. SaxtOn, Mrs. A. McGregOr, Mrs. j.
+. Roth, Mrs. j. K. Niesz, Mrs. G. Wise.
Said committee to have power to call
TO their assistance any persons they may
need.
Mrs. j. A. SaxtOn to be Chairman of
committee and chief superintendent.
On motion, James Bayliss and A. Nc |
GregOr and wife were appointed com
m1ttee 70 visit President Stump and
family In their sickness and offer them |
the sympathy and coincidence of the So |
cIety and report their condition to the |
Society.
Mr.. MeGregor read extracts from an |
article by DIR. Felix Oswald published |
in the Cincinnati Enquirer, on the land |
of the future and what the American of \
the twentieth century will eat; of bread |
yielding trees, sugar from trees and |
vegetable fat instead of lard and butter. |
n. n