MAY. 99 



CULTURE OF THE DAHLIA FOR EXHIBITION. 



The following,- concise rules, to be observed in the successful culture 

 of the Dahlia for exhibition, are not presented so much for any no- 

 velty in the practice recommended, as to point out a few of the most 

 essential things to be done at the proper time. 



For economy in carriage, the plants are grown and sent out in 

 small pots; therefore, on receiving them from the nursery, place them 

 in a close frame for a day and a night to recover them from their 

 confinement ; then repot them into 4-inch pots, using rich soil : the 

 pots should be drained with coarse partly decomposed leaf-mould, so 

 that in planting out there w^ill be nothing to abstract from the ball of 

 earth. A good start is of great importance; therefore care should 

 be taken that the plant is grown to a fair size without drawing dur- 

 ing the time it is in the pot ; the stouter it is the better, without 

 being tall ; and it should not be pot-bound at the time of planting 

 out : both the roots and the point of the plant should be in a thriv- 

 ing condition, and free from aphides. 



It may perhaps be unnecessary to state that the plants must be 

 carefully hardened off before they are turned out. If the soil and 

 plants are in a proper state, the first week in June will be a good 

 time for the general planting, which, wdth ordinary care and atten- 

 tion, will produce good blooms in time for the earliest exhibition. 



A short period will suffice to have plants of a good size ; but it 

 should be borne in mind that hours lost in repotting them when in a 

 young state will make a difference of days in the time of bloomin^, 

 and it is important that this should be clearly understood, that no 

 neglect in the matter may be permitted to take place. Examine the 

 plants often to see if any require water; by no means let them become 

 dry so long as they are in pots. Secure them with proper and strong 

 fastenings at the time of planting ; water whenever they require it, 

 and sprinkle the foliage slightly almost every evening with soft water. 

 Tie out the branches, and, as the plant increases in size, secure the 

 side-shoots firmly to extra stakes. Cut away all superfluous small 

 shoots. Some varieties have scarcely any to remove, while others 

 have a considerable number. Fearless is of the class which has but 

 few shoots requiring the use of the knife; but such kinds as Shylock 

 require it freely. Indiscriminate pruning must therefore be avoided. 

 Study the habit of the plant, and consider if the flower will be im- 

 proved by increased size ; all varieties need some thinning and dis- 

 budding, which should be effected at diflferent periods. Small flowers 

 require it as soon as the young shoots and buds can be removed, 

 while large flowers, such as Thames Bank Hero, Princess Louisa, and 

 many others, would be rendered coarse and valueless for the purposes 

 of exhibition if a number of buds were not permitted to remain till 

 the ])lant was coming into bloom. Size in this case would be gained 

 at the expense of quality ; besides, there is the advantage of having 

 three blooms where two w^ould be grown. On the other hand, size, 

 in moderation, must not be lost sight of. It was not with small 



