58 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



there is some risk of injury to the plants from westerly 

 gales. Varieties ranging from 4 to 6 feet in height are 

 the most suitable for beds in large gardens, and for gardens 

 of medium and small dimensions plants from 3 to 5 feet 

 are preferable for both beds and borders. As some of 

 the most attractive varieties exceed that height, difficulty 

 will be experienced in excluding them from selections, and 

 therefore it will be well to bear in mind that the tallest 

 varieties should in such cases be utilised in furnishing 

 borders. From 3 to 4 feet will be a good distance 

 to allow the plants when grown in beds and borders wholly 

 devoted to them, the exact distance being determined by 

 the height of the varieties and the character of the soil. 

 In the mixed border from 8 to 10 feet will be a good 

 distance at which to put them apart, it not being advisable 

 to allow them to greatly predominate over the other kinds. 



As in the case of other classes of Dahlias grown for the 

 production of colour effects in the garden, it is essential 

 that the soil be not heavily manured, for an excess of 

 plant food promotes a stout, soft, and leafy growth but 

 few flowers, and these flowers of so large a size that the 

 stems are unequal to the task of carrying them above 

 the leaves. In the case of soils that are rich from heavy 

 dressings of manure applied in the previous year, a dressing 

 of newly-slaked lime will suffice, the quantity to apply being 

 as much as will whiten the surface. If the soil is only 

 moderately rich, dress it with sufficient decomposed farm- 

 yard manure to form a layer about 3 inches in thickness. 

 Should it be more or less impoverished or light and sandy, 

 about double the quantity may be used, the object in 

 modifying the manurial applications according to the 



