DAHLIA. 83 
light, rich or poor, there is no plant that more highly 
appreciates good generous treatment. ‘To produce good 
double flowers in profusion, the soil must be strong, 
deep and rich. The plant is a gross feeder and requires 
plenty of light, room and air. With these requisites an 
individual plant will yield an enormous number of flow- 
ers, proportionate in size and 
color. For exhibition flowers, 
disbudding is necessary ; leave 
but a single bud on a leading 
branch, and, should the 
weather be warm and dry, ar- 
tificial watering will greatly 
enhance the size and _ sub- 
stance of the flower. The soil 
should be worked often and 
deep. The Dahlia is not a 
weed, but a noble plant, and 
as such should receive proper 
attention. 
Propagation is effected in a 
the spring by division of the ® 
tubers, which should be 
started on wet moss or sand 
about three weeks before it is 
time for planting out in the 
border. The eyes will develop 
into sprouts; then, with a 
fine saw cut up the tubers, leaving but a single eye 
cu each piece, as shown in the illustration, plant 
in the same manner as the potato. For the rapid 
increase of desired varieties for purposes of sale, the 
tubers should be put in the propagating bench about the 
first of January, and cuttings taken off when they have 
made two joints; these will root freely with slight bot- 
tom heat. When nicely rooted pot off in thuml) pots, 
SPROUTED DAHLIA TUBER, 
