THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK 



second lot of water has gone down to the roots, carrying the 

 manure with it to a large extent, draw the dry soil over it again 

 as a mulch. A backward plant may have a second dose of this 

 a fortnight later. Sheep manure and hen manlire are strong 

 in nitrates, being only stimulating, and producing vigorous top 

 growth. Too much of it will draw and weaken the stems, and 

 take the strength from the tubers so that they do not carry over 

 the winter well. 



Do not cut a dahlia as soon as it is open. Sometimes it 

 takes a week for the bloom to develop its full glory. Cut it 

 with a long stem — never less than eighteen inches if possible, 

 and better four feet. This is good for the plant, and the bloom 

 shows to much better advantage. Always have a pail of clean 

 fresh water at hand. Do not use water which has stood over 

 night in the pail, or in which other blooms have stood earlier 

 in the day. Pull off the lower leaves at once and plunge the 

 stems into the water immediately. Never allow the leaves 

 under water, as they decay and poison it, causing the flowers 

 to wilt. Cut the blooms in the evening, if possible, and let 

 them stand over night in the pail in a cool dark cellar. When 

 arranging in vases, the stems should have plenty of room, 

 and the water changed every day. The stems should be rinsed 

 off, and a bit cut off before replacing in the vases. If this is 

 done, a well grown flower will keep ten days in the house under 

 ordinary circumstances. If flowers show a tendency to wilt, 

 the stems may be cut back and plunged into very hot water — 

 as hot as the hand can possibly l)ear — for about ten minutes. 

 This opens the pores, so that the cold water, into which they 

 are subsequently placed, is quickly taken up. Keep them in a 

 cool dark room until they recover. 



A grower recently has given me an excellent recipe for the 

 keeping of dahlia blooms, especially when they have to be 

 shipfted. Into a clean quart bottle place i tablespoon bicar- 

 bonate of soda, chemically pure, and i tablespoon household 

 ammonia. Fill the bottle with pure water and shake until it is 

 dissolved. One or two tablespoons of this mixture added to 

 the water of the vase, according to the size, will do much to 

 lengthen the life of the cut flower. 



398 



