CHAPTER XI 

 CULTIVATION 



IN entering upon the cultivation of Dahlias it will be found 

 an immense advantage to first determine whether they are 

 to be grown for the purpose of obtaining bright displays of 

 flowers in the garden or for the production of highly-de- 

 veloped blooms that will win prizes in close competitions at 

 exhibitions. It is essential this should be done, because the 

 cultural methods must be carefully adapted to the special 

 purpose for which the plants are grown. In the past it 

 has been too much the practice to recommend and adopt 

 the same course of procedure for plants intended for adding 

 to the attractions of flower beds and borders as for those 

 from which exhibition blooms are required. In conse- 

 quence the results have in most cases failed to realise the 

 anticipations of cultivators, and the Dahlia has suffered in 

 repute as a garden flower. With the exception of the 

 pompons, pompon cactus and single varieties, Dahlias 

 grown for exhibition require very generous treatment in 

 the matter of manurial applications. On the contrary, 

 those grown for decorative effect, or the supply of cut flowers 

 for use in floral arrangements, require only a moderately 

 rich soil. In the latter case, if manure is applied in excess 

 of that necessary to maintain a continuous and moderate 

 growth; the leaf-development is such as to prevent in some 



