The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-05-05
FRUITS AND FLOWERS.
CONTINUED TRoM TEE rIRsr PAer.

increasing varieties Of plants and fiOw-
era which are annually originated
among the florists Of our own, and
foreign countries, and more 80, to de-
scribe the improvements on many OF the
older sorts.
Take the rose (by many considered the
Queen Of tiOwers) with all its beautiful
varieties, compare them with the wild
brler growing spontaneously in our
fields, and fence corners, and IN the lat
ter you have the parent from which
all others (as florists snppOse) originated.
The contrast between many OF our finest
varieties of flowers, and their origin,
can scarcely gain credence. Few, II
any, have been cultivated to higher de-
gree of perfection than the dAhlia, and
new acquisitions of the finest varieties
are annually being added. Having q
limited experience in its cultivation,
propose giving u concise account of Its
history and mode. of culture.
We are informed, in q treatise ON the
dahlia, that IL IL OF American origin, and
was hrst discovered III Mexico, ABOUT the
| year l7S4 aud named after Dr. Dahl "a
Swedish bOIanisD by Cavanilles "a Spa
nIsh bOtanist,) and that its improvement
has been accomplished by the patience
and skill OF European florists. ltwRs at
/ first cultivated Tor lLs tubers, which
were considered edible.
very eminent BOtanist named Hum
bOldt Is also said 10 have discovered IL
on the sandy plains OF Mexico, who had
gathered a lew seeds and sent them 10
/ Spain, as q present 10 Lady Holland,
| from whence descended all the Dahlias
| in Europe.
From All English work, we learn that
the DahllR WAS first introduced into
England from Spain, by the MArchiOness
OF Butte, rs early as 1853 but rs 1t was not
subsequently, heard of, IL Is supposed To
have been lost shorty after this intro
ducLiOn. In 1894, account Is are recorded
of seeds of this plant having been trans
mlLLed by Lady Holland from the Royal
Gardens AZ Madrid, TO MIR. BOunArutl,
then Resident Ia England. From the
most rellaOl6 sources we are Informed
that the Danlia has been cultivated ia
England about 81 years, but during the
greater part OF Thai time had not attain
cd any very great degree OF perfection.
More than oO years since, to my per
SOnAl knOWleuge) IT WAS cultivated III
the United States. IL - Tender peren-
MAI, JuDerOus, IRsclcled rooted plant,
ana was considered very choice anu
| novel at the Time OF Its introduction.
The flowers were generally composed vi
u few petals, and very much resembled
the dog wood blossoms, (which abound
III our IOresIs III The spring, It's flowers
were Of The Richest cVIOrs, and (aG that
LlmeJ very attractive ~ The eye Of the
/ DehOluer. The florists, III, and around
/ New York, Boston, and contiguous
places have contributed much tO IL5 Im.
! prOvement. Years later, Mr.. Gerhard
| SchmltZ, q gentleman living Ill PhllA-
| uelpnIa grew The DAhlla very extensive
| ly, and ls the orig lnatOr OF a great many
very superb varieties, ,(he having recently
Abandoned the .Ouslness) very many o.
nlS choicest seedlings are now eXtanL.
AS the DahIIS IL an autumn nOWeI
There Is no necessity for planting IL very
early, II favorable weather, during The
| hrsG week III May Will De early enough.
The best and easiest method IL to plant
| the roots enLlre III q warm sheltered
situation, closely together where they
VIII have The suns rays, during the
| whole day, II possible, water them
when necessary. When Jne young shoots
are two Or three inches high, take up the
rOOLs, and divide the tuDers At the crown,
/ so as TO retain shoot or two on 40
many as possible, after which, plant
where you wish them TO remain. Or, IL
you prefer, wait until the eyes begin W
appear around The crown, or stem. then
| divide, and plant permanently.
The DahllR should be planted IN an
open situation where II IL not subject
" the shade Of trees or tall shrubs. IL
| should receive the rays of the sun al
least hall the day, If grown in the shade
| Or confined places, II produces q slender
stalk, and the blooms are generally des-
Lltute Of that brllllancy of color they
attain when planted III favorable To-
callty. This assertion ID exemplitied Ill
the Dahlla, growing In confined places
III cities, ana shaded avenues. 1t ls I'M
pOrtant that to grow the Dahlia to per-
lection, rather dat and exposed slLua-
lion should De chosen. The soil should
Oe Vt rich, mellow, sandy, lOamy Ma
Jure, that wall retain moisture, but not
III such excessive quantities i'll the fall
VI the year, as 10 cause the tubers To
rot, which Is sometimes the case.
In planting extensively, and for
The purpose Of lowering IN the great
est perfection select piece Of ground,
which should De well DulVerlzed; plant
III rows about five feet apart, and the
Gubers about four feet apart IN the rows,
and two inches deep; small portion OF
manure from the hennery, incorporated
with the soil near the roots Will De ben
ehclal. As soon as the plants commence
growing stlr the earth about them; do
not allow more than a single stem TO re-
main at each plant, pinch out lateral
SHOOTS as they appear, until the plants
become firmly established. Do not dis
Gurb the leaves connected with the ma in
stem, because bare stem causes the
plant " look unsightly, besides, the
leaves assist in keeping the ground
moist around the plants during the heat
OF summer. Drive strong stake firmly
into the ground at each plant, to which
IL should be tied as it advances. Use the
noe frequently; do not cultivate during
muddy weather. In eultiVating between
the rows the aid Of horse will greatly
facilitate the operation. Mulch during
summer, with little we'll rOtted ma.
nure. After they have commenced to
OlOOm thin out supeThuOus branches as
they appear. To grow Dahlias on a
small scale, a lawn, or border In the gar
den along the walk in apaT Ttmen ts, VI mere
destructive animals have no iDgress, are
very appropriate places. IL it Is desir
81 70 plant on a lawn, dig hole about
the circumference of an ordinary sized
bucket, and about half the depth, i'll
sunny situation, Enrich the soil If nee
essary, stir the ground frequently, Keep
grass and weeds away. In other re-
spects treatment is the same as for those
cultivated on large beds.
The most unfavorable season to the |
Dahlia is a long continued drOuth in the |