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We do not know of one single gem in Flora's diadem, more exquisitely beautiful than the dahlia ; and there is nothing easier of culture and propagation, and nothing that continues longer in bloom. The wonder is that it is not more generally cultivated at the south. For dahlias this season commenced blooming in April, and they have been one dense mass of bloom ever since, with a prospect of continuing so until frost. The forms range from the exquisite double cup to the open petal.— Some are singularly unique and beautiful; for instance, a deep crimson with a single white petal, scarlet and white, yellow and red, variegated, and all the thousand fancy forms and colors which Flora in her wildest, gayest Ireaks could possibly assume. The dahlia thrives and blooms best in a sandy soil—too rich a soil making it too bushy. Where the soil is naturally rich, a shovelful of sand put around the tubers will be ot* great service ; and when it is naturally poor a shovelfull of well-rotted manure will be the same. But the dahlia loves water, and, when the season is not reasonably wet, it must have artificial watering. We commend its culture to all lovers of the beautiful. Many who cultivate dahlias are not aware of the ease with which the plant may be obtained Irom the seed. This may be gathered insufficient quantities at the season of the year from almost any plant which has blossomed freely during the summer. If sown in the spring in a rich warm soil, with a southern exposure, they will, without any extra care, produce plants which will blossom abundantly during the same season. The practice of keeping the tubers through the winter is quite unnecessary, except lor the preservation of choice varieties. Those obtained from the seed will commence blossoming somewhat later in the season than the others, but early enough to mature seed, while the varieties which can be thus secured are almost endless. — [Southern Cultivator.
