GROWTH UNDER GLASS 71 



with firm, short-jointed growth for planting out at the end 

 of May, or a week or so earlier if the district, situation, and 

 soil will admit of this being done with safety. 



There are three methods by which Dahlia stocks may 

 be annually renewed or increased in accordance with 

 individual requirements, and it is advisable to give their 

 relative advantages and disadvantages due consideration. 



The first is simply starting the roots into growth under 

 glass early in the spring and then growing them on with no 

 other manipulation of the several shoots except reducing 

 them to two or three, the smaller number being preferable, 

 and planting them intact. The renewal of the stock in 

 this manner has much to recommend it to those who grow 

 Dahlias exclusively for garden decoration, and while anxious 

 to raise the plants required at home have no convenience 

 for rooting cuttings, or are unable to devote the necessary 

 attention to them. Plants raised from the old tubers in 

 this manner commence to bloom earlier than those raised 

 from cuttings in the usual way, and when they are grown 

 wholly for garden decoration this point is worthy of con- 

 sideration, more especially in the case of many of the 

 cactus varieties. As a set-off to the advantage of prolonging 

 the season of flowering it must be said that the blooms are 

 not, as a rule, of so high a quality as those borne by plants 

 raised from cuttings ; and should the season be open, and the 

 period of flowering extended longer than is usual, some 

 flowers will, late in autumn, exhibit open centres. 



In raising plants by this method of procedure the roots 

 are removed from the shed, loft, or cellar in which they 

 have been wintered at the end of February or quite early 

 in March and put in pots that are 6 inches in diameter. 



