Growing Flowers 53 



Dahlias 



Dahlias require rich, moist soil. In the Southern 

 States they may remain in the ground during the 

 winter, but in the colder climate the bulbs should 

 be taken up in the fall and stored in a dry place 

 until spring, when they may be planted as soon as 

 the ground is warm. 



Dahlias should be trained to stakes or planted near 

 a fence or other support. The canes are not very 

 strong and a strong wind is likely to blow them 

 over. In placing near a support they should not 

 be deprived of sunlight or they will not thrive. 



Dahlia bulbs should be looked over once or twice 

 during the winter to make sure that none are shrivel- 

 ing from too much heat and dryness, nor starting 

 into growth from too much moisture. 



Dahlias should be kept down to three or four stems 

 at the most. All other shoots should be cut off as 

 fast as they appear, otherwise all the strength will 

 go into the plant instead of blossoms. Big, bushy 

 plants and no flowers are not desirable. 



Dahlias will mature just as early if planted out of 

 doors after danger of frost is over as if planted indoors 



