THE FLOWER GARDEN IN JULY AND AUGUST. 



263 



THE FLOWER GARDEN IN JULY AND AUGUST. 



MRS. S. R. SPATES, MARKVILLE. 



The dahlia seems to be growing- more popular each year. You 

 can have a flower garden with the dahlia alone from July ist, 

 and not only through August but till frost cuts them down, even into 

 October. They range in all the colors and are both double and 

 single. The catcus dahlia is very choice, and the bulbs are more ex- 

 pensive. The cultivation of the dahlia is easy, and the reward is 

 great. I plant my bulbs the first week in May generally, but 

 first cover the ground with well rotted manure and plow or 

 spade under. Then rake smooth. Plant the bulbs in hills three 

 feet apart, so the top of the bulb is about two inches under ground. 





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Home of Mrs. S. R. Spates, at Markville, Lake Minnetonka. 



They will come up in a week or ten days, depending some on the 

 weather. Hoe them once a week, and when they get to be eighteen 

 inches high drive a stake by each one and tie to it, as they are easily 

 broken off by the wind. It is best to use quite a long stake to begin 

 with, as the plant needs more tying higher up. Most of our dahlias 

 were far above my head and were loaded with the graceful flowers 

 reaching out in all directions. 



In order to raise good dahlias, like anything else, they must have 

 rich soil and good sunshine to grow in. I have given bulbs to 

 friends who admired my flowers and directed them how to plant 



