DAHLIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



DATURA 



joint, and inserted in a compost of 

 rich gritty soil. They root in a few 

 days, and when well established are 

 placed singly into 3-in. pots, and 

 grown on with plenty of air and 

 light until planting-out time. If 

 necessary, cuttings of the side-shoots 

 may be taken from the plants in 

 summer and rooted in the same way. 



FIG. 118. Dahlia, cutting. 



Perhaps the simplest method of 

 propagating Dahlias is to take the 

 bunch of old tuberous roots and 

 divide one from the other with a 

 sharp knife so that each shall have 

 a piece of the old stem attached. 

 This may be done in March and 

 April, protecting the divided portions 

 from frost in a cold frame, but giving 

 as much light and air as possible on 

 all mild days. Or the divided pieces 

 may be potted up separately, and 

 placed in warmth in a greenhouse. 



Dahlias may be grafted under 

 glass in winter by inserting a shoot 



191 



in a slit of a tuberous root, but it is 

 very rarely this method is adopted. 



Lifting and Storing in Winter. 

 When the first frosts appear in 

 autumn, the tender shoots of the 

 Dahlia are cut down. The tuberous 

 roots should then be lifted, cleaned, 

 and dried, and about 6 ins. of the old 

 stalks should be left attached, as 

 it is from the base of these that 

 shoots will sprout the following 

 spring. Special varieties should be 

 carefully labelled, and when all is 

 clean and tidy the roots may be stored 

 away in a dry, cool, airy but frost- 

 proof cellar, buried in dry sand, soil, 

 or coco-nut fibre until wanted in 

 spring. In a humid atmosphere the 

 dormant tubers are liable to rot, and 

 should therefore be overhauled 

 occasionally. 



Insect Pests. In gardens that are 

 not deeply cultivated or otherwise 

 neglected, slugs are almost sure to be 

 present, and do much mischief to the 

 young shoots of all plants, including 

 Dahlias. Their depredations are best 

 kept under by frequent use of the 

 hoe, and by strewing freshly slaked 

 lime or soot around the plants two 

 or three mornings in succession. 

 When Dahlias are in blossom, ear- 

 wigs often play havoc with them. 

 These pests are also best kept down 

 and destroyed by frequently stirring 

 the soil, otherwise traps must be set 

 to catch them. Small pots with a 

 little hay, moss, or paper may be 

 placed upside down on the stakes, 

 and should be examined every 

 morning for the earwigs that will 

 nest in them. Hollow stems of 

 Elder, Broad Bean, Hemlock, or 

 Knot Weed (Polygormm) may also 

 be used as traps hung on the shoots. 



DATURA (from its Arabic name, 

 Tatorali), THORN APPLE. Nat. Ord. 

 Solanaceae. There are many species 



