THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK 



before the plantings are made. For making the divisions a heavy 

 sharp knife is used, taking care to leave at least one good shoot 

 or bud or a good-sized piece of the crown on each piece, as already 

 indicated on a preceding page. Some of the varieties, and occa- 

 sionally those with the most beautiful flowers, are poor root- 

 formers, so that there is little natural increase from year to year ; 

 but most of the varieties yield root-clumps that are readily 

 divisible into from four to twelve growable parts, so that the 

 beginner's stock rapidly increases and he usually has the pleasure 

 of being able to supply his friends and neighbors with his surplus 

 roots, and thus help to widen the rapidly growing appreciation of 

 the decorative possibilities of the modern dahlia. 



When a root-division from a rare variety has been planted and 

 more than one shoot appears it is commonly possible by careful 

 treatment to develop a plant from each of these shoots instead 

 of sacrificing all but one in pruning to one stem. When the 

 shoots are about six inches high the root is lifted very carefullv 

 and all of the shoots but one, and more especially those that may 

 have developed little rootlets of their own, are removed at their 

 base with a sharp knife and are planted in a pot or in the ground. 

 If the soil is then kept very moist and if the young shoots are 

 partly shaded at first, it is usually possible to make a good plant 

 out of each, even though the shoot may show no sign of an indi- 

 vidual rootlet at the time of the operation. If started early 

 enough, plants produced in this way reach the flowering stage 

 before frost comes, but. generally speaking, they are later and less 

 vigorous than those that have the initial advantage of an ample 

 reserve-food supply under them in the shape of a tuberous root. 

 The amateur does not always succeed in this slipping operation 

 and if he should happen to sacrifice or cripple his only plant of a 

 choice variety in a vain efifort to make two or three plants out of 

 it, he is likely to be the victim of poignant regrets over not having 

 left "well enough alone." It is better to learn the method of 

 procedure and the chances of success by experimenting with 

 some of the less treasured varieties. 



Marshall A. Howe. 

 The New York Botanical G.ardex. 

 Broxx P.\rk, New York City. 



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