STAKING AND THINNING 95 



this increase will proceed rapidly when a vigorous growth 

 has commenced. 



Should the climatic and soil conditions be favourable, 

 there will be evidence of vigorous growth in a comparatively 

 short period, and flower buds will soon afterwards make 

 their appearance. As the development of the side branches 

 proceeds, they should be looped up to the stake, with the 

 aid of raffia or other suitable material, and thus for a time 

 remove the risk of injury from rough winds. In a short 

 time further support will be required, and this should be 

 provided by putting two other stakes to each of the exhibi- 

 tion Dahlias, such stakes to be of the same height as those 

 used in the first instance. They should be so fixed in the 

 ground as to form, with those already in position, a series 

 of triangles. Connect the stakes supporting each plant 

 with stout cord or yarn, and to this tie the side branches 

 evenly and securely as they become long enough to render 

 additional support necessary. In the case of the cactus, 

 show, and other robust varieties that are being grown for 

 exhibition purposes, the earlier buds should be pinched out 

 immediately they are seen, and if the shoots have attained 

 some height, they should be pinched off below the first or 

 second joint. This stopping will divert some part of the 

 energies of the plant into the lower branches, which will 

 at once begin to make rapid progress, and in due course 

 produce flower buds that will prove useful by develop- 

 ing into blooms of high quality for the early shows. 

 Disbudding will not be necessary in the case of plants 

 grown for garden decoration, as large numbers of blooms 

 of average size are of greater value than a few remarkable 

 for exceptionally high development, When these latter 



