March 

 I-I5 



THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



frame and have nowhere to harden them. The seeds 

 will germinate in an unheated frame in April. 



Propagating Dahlias. — With mild weather there may 

 be signs of growth in the Dahlia stools that were taken 

 up and stored in autumn. Should there be no such 

 signs, the grower who wishes to get some shoots for 

 early cuttings can easily stimulate the roots by putting 

 them in heat. As soon as growth starts the tubers 



ought to be raised near 

 the glass, so that the 

 shoots may be kept 

 short and sturdy. If 

 the stools are left in 

 a low, semi-dark place, 

 such as under a green- 

 house stage, the shoots 

 become long and weak. 

 The shoots make good 

 cuttings when they 

 are thickset, and about 

 three inches long. 

 They should be taken 

 off without any of the 

 neck to which they are 

 attached, and inserted 

 singly in 3-inch pots, in very sandy soil. They should be 

 made quite firm. With warmth they will soon strike root. 

 If kept near the glass (and in April they will be safe in a 

 frame, with protection in frosty weather) they will extend 

 slowly, but sturdily, and by the end of May will be about 

 a foot high, strong, short-jointed, and just right for 

 planting. Buyers of Dahlias should not try to get the 

 plants from the nurseryman yet ; in the first place 

 because he has not had time to get his stock prepared, 



Fig. 3«.— Propagating Dahlias. 



a. A cluster of old tubers. 



b. Young growths. 



C. One suitable for a cutting. 



d. Cutting prepared for insertion, 



«. Cutting inserted in a deep flower pot. 



