FLORISTS' FLOWERS : DAHLIAS. 75 



must be covered at night with large clean garden pots. 

 They require a deep rich friable soil, but not over rich, 

 which produces fine leaves at the expense of flowers. 

 The ground may be trenched as deep as its nature will 

 allow (a foot and a half or two feet deep), and a good 

 layer of decomposed manure afterwards laid on the 

 surface, and at once dug in a spit deep. Lay the soil 

 thus prepared up in ridges until the time for putting in 

 the dahlias, when it may be raked level. The roots, 

 having been kept through the winter in a dry place, 

 safe from frost, are started in a hotbed to show where 

 the eyes are. They may then be divided, taking care 

 that each piece has a portion of the collar, with an eye 

 or two, and planted in pots, kept safe from frost, and 

 turned out when the time comes, either spaced about 

 the beds or in entire beds. The dwarf kinds make 

 good bedding plants, pegged down. To be fine and 

 good in colour, dahlias must have plenty of room and 

 air, and they should have a spot sheltered from high 

 winds, as the branches are heavy and brittle. It is best 

 to fix the stakes before putting in the roots. Dwarf 

 kinds should be five feet apart, and the taller ones six. 

 "When they have grown up into nice bushy plants throw 

 a little half-rotted stable litter round each to preserve 

 them from drought, and to give nutriment when they are 

 watered. As they grow large they will want plentiful 

 watering in hot weather. "When they are high enough 

 to require it, they must be tied to the stake with broad 

 shreds of soft bast, and the side shoots will also require 

 tying with longer pieces to prevent their being broken 

 with wind and heavy rain. It is sometimes necessary 

 to place some side stakes round the centre one, to which 

 to tie the side branches. The thinnings of larch planta- 

 tions make the best stakes. As soon as frost touches 

 the tops of the plants, cut them down and dig up the 

 roots at once. If they come up clean and dry they may 

 be put away very soon, but if the soil clings to the 

 tubers it must be cleaned from them, and they must be 

 dried. The place for storing them must be safe from 

 frost, and dry, but not dry enough to make the roots get 



