There are men who have never known any friendship in Nature; others again who never 

 outgrow the love of birds and flowers, who preserve some youthfulness and innocence which 

 keeps them in touch with wild life. Over and above a healthy curiosity, or any scientific ac- 

 quaintance, it is the companionship of the woods and fields which counts — a real friendship 

 for birds and bees and flowers. Let us remember the woods in the days of our youth, that 

 we may have this unfailing resource in later years. " hi ///<■ Open," by Stanton Davis Kirkham. 



The Guide to Nature 



EDUCATION AND RECREATION 



Vol. I 



FEBRUARY, 1909 



No. 11 



OUTDOOR WoRLD 



Up=to=Date Dahlias and Their Culture. 



BY MAURICE FULD, BOSTON, MASS. 



HE phenomenal popularity 

 that this grand garden 

 Mower is enjoying at the 

 present time is due mostly 

 to the introduction of newer 

 forms and colors which 

 appeal to all flower lovers. 

 The interest taken in this flower has 

 exceeded that of any other garden 

 species, and justly so, for where can 

 we find another kind that can he grown 

 with such wonderful ease and little 

 care, and produce fantastic blooms of 

 immense proportions and in such a 

 great abundance that you can give 

 away thousands of them a day and still 

 have your garden full of bloom. 



Exhibitions which have dahlias as 

 their sole attraction are now a common 

 occurrence and it is a pleasure to the 

 horticulturist to note the extreme in- 

 terest the amateur gardener takes in 

 this flower, how intensely he studies 



the names of varieties to familiarize 

 himself with this wonderful large fami- 



The real lover of dahlias is one who 

 is not satisfied unless he grows from 

 three to five hundred sorts in his gar- 

 den and he can show you around on a 

 bright fall day and name you off this 

 wonderful collection, each one by its 

 given name. 



Dahlia gardens are a specialty by 

 themselves and should be built on or- 

 iginal and distinct lines. To connect 

 or to grow dahlias in combination with 

 other flowers not only distracts from 

 the actual beauty of the dahlia but it 

 does not add the least grace to a group 

 of plants. The ideal spot for the Dahlia 

 Garden can easily be found. 



You are not restricted to con- 

 ditions of soil, direction of sunlight or 

 conditions of weather. The illustra- 

 tion which accompanies this article 



Copyright 1909 by The Agassiz Association. Stamford, Conn. 



