of Dahlias. 133 



tlvators, more particularly amateurs. Continual watering washes 

 the soil from the roots, and disfigures the appearance of the beds, 

 while clear moss has a freshness and neatness about it which am- 

 ply repays for the trouble of procuring it. 



Taking up the roots, their preservation, <^'C. — We have thus 

 arrived at the close of the season — to the time of taking up the 

 tubers. There are various opinions respecting the time of tak- 

 ing up the roots; some cultivators say as soon as the branches 

 are destroyed by frost, and others not until cold sets in and the 

 ground freezes. The advocates of the former system state that 

 the roots immediately push new shoots if allowed to remain in 

 the ground, while those who advocate the latter affirm that they 

 are better ripened, and thus rendered more certain of being 

 safely kept during the winter. We have tried each mode, but 

 not sufficiently to pronounce the one or the other to be the most 

 safe; considerable depends upon the growth of the plants and 

 the dryness or wetness of autumn. If the autumn has been very 

 dry, and the plants have suffered for water, until the time when 

 the frost has killed the tops, and heavy rains ensue afterwards, 

 it would most certainly be a judicious mode to take them up im- 

 mediately; but, on the contrary, if the fall has been wet, and, 

 after frost, dry and fine weather ensues, then, undoubtedly, it 

 would be as well or better to let the tubers remain a few weeks 

 in the ground. Judgment alone is the guide in this case as in 

 others: to be on the safest side, we should prefer taking up early 

 than late. The most important thing to guard, against is the pre- 

 mature starting of the eyes of the tubers. 



When the frost has destroyed the leaves and stems they should 

 be immediately cut away as close to the surface of the soil as 

 possible, below, if it can be done, where the frost has reached; 

 then let a little earth be drawn over the crowns of the root, so 

 as to throw off the rain, and all is done till such time as the ope- 

 ration of taking up is decided upon. For this purpose a dry 

 day should be selected, and the work carefully performed. With 

 a spade take away the soil from the roots: lift them steadily, and 

 shake off as much of the soil as possible. Carry them into an 

 airy shed or other dry situation, out of the way of the hot sun, 

 and there let them remain a few days: then pack them away in 

 the cellar, the green-house, or wherever it is intended to keep 

 them. 



The modes of preserving dahlias during winter are many and 

 various. If the roots are well grown, well ri|)ened, and well 

 taken up, they will keep almost any where out of the danger of 

 frost. But this is so seldom the case, that some more particular 

 precautions appear to be necessary for their safety during their 

 dormant season. One cultivator has informed us that he barrels 

 the roots up, like potatoes; another that he packs or throws them 



