ON BLOOMING DAHLIAS FOR SHOW. 159 



intend the following remarks, which, if acted upon, will, I have no 

 doubt, enable them to produce flowers as large and as perfect as any 

 of those exhibited by old and experienced growers. 



In the first place, Dahlias, when first planted, should never be 

 placed in soil that is too rich, or that has been newly manured; for 

 if so, though they will flourish and grow very luxuriantly, yet it is a 

 well-known fact that all blooms produced by such plants are never so 

 fine and perfect as those grown on stiff, strong plants, less luxuriant 

 in habit. The plan I generally adopt, is to dig and trench the ground 

 well in winter ; then manure and set it with early potatoes, and after- 

 wards plant the Dahlias among the potatoes (making a slight hollow 

 for the water to lodge) and in about every other row, so as to leave 

 the Dahlias four or five feet apart, nearer than which they should 

 never at any time be planted. By this means the ground not only 

 gets well prepared and replenished at the proper season, but an extra 

 crop is secured, which, while it considerably detracts from the ext- 

 pense of Dahlia growing, does not, however, in the least interfere 

 with or injure them. If the soil be poor and exhausted, I sometimes 

 dig out a hole and fill it with fresh loam or vegetable mould. As 

 soon as the plants are set, water should be given them (if the weather 

 be dry), till they have taken fast hold of the ground, after which no 

 more should be applied until the blooming season, when they should 

 be copiously watered every time they appear to require it. Many 

 people think that by continued watering the plants are sure to flou- 

 rish ; so they will, and be drawn up long weakly things that will 

 never produce a good bloom ; many thus fall into the very common 

 error of " killing with kindness." It is a very prevalent practice 

 also with inexperienced amateurs to cut and prune their plants till 

 they are mere skeletons, thinking that by this means all the strength 

 and power of the plant will be concentrated in what is left; but this 

 is very erroneous, as it is well known, or ought to be, that plants, 

 something like animals, derive support from all their different parts 

 and members, and that the unnecessary amputation of these parts 

 weakens and deteriorates the whole plants. There are, however, 

 some plants which require a little pruning, such as have branches, 

 for instance, that crowd and are in each others way, — these ought to 

 be carefully taken off, and no more, but as soon as the plants begin 

 to show buds I would then begin to thin them a little, say, for 



