106 PLANNING AND PLANTING 



resembles the decorative, except that the flowers 

 are more ball-like in form, and the petals more 

 closely quilled. We also have the newer peony 

 type which very much resembles the Japanese 

 Peony; the Century or giant single dahlias; the 

 Pompons, which are miniature ball dahlias, and 

 borne on the plants in great profusion; also the 

 Peter Pan or dwarf bedding dahlias, which while 

 not so well known as the other types, are coming 

 into greater popularity, especially in some sec- 

 tions. 



Before planting your Dahlias, the roots should 

 ALWAYS be divided. They will not grow, how- 

 ever, unless a portion of the woody stalk is left 

 attached to the tuber, for it is only at the neck or 

 junction of the tuber and the stalk that the new 

 shoots come forth. Some folk have the idea that 

 dahlias have "eyes" like potatoes, but this is far 

 from being the case. 



While Dahlias may be planted as early as April, 

 early planting is not advisable, and during the 

 first ten days of June is plenty early enough. The 

 Dahlia is essentially a fall blooming flower, doing 

 its best when the nights are cool, and early plant- 

 ings either are apt to run to plant instead of 

 flower, or to produce inferior blooms in summer, 

 and so not have the vitality left for proper bloom- 

 ing in the fall months. 



Plant the bulb or tuber flat ; do not stand it on 



