450 



DAHLIA 



young shoots as fast as they form the third or fourth 

 set of leaves. These cuttings are carefully trimmed 

 and placed in pure sand in the propagating bench, using 

 a dibble, and putting the cuttings in rows about 3 in. 

 apart and %-l in. between the cuttings. 



The propagating bench is made by running a flue, hot 

 water or steam pipes beneath an ordinary bench, and 

 boarding up the side to confine the heat. Although 

 there may be a difference of opinion among propagators, 

 yet a bottom of sand heat of 65°, with the temperature 

 of the house from 5-10° less, will give the best practical 

 results. With this temperature, the cuttings will root 

 in about two weeks, and will be far stronger than if 

 rooted in less time with greater heat. As soon as cut- 

 tings are rooted, they are potted off into small pots and 

 grown in a cool greenhouse until danger of frost is over, 

 when they are planted out in the open ground. Cuttings 

 made too far below a jomt, or too late m summer will 

 produce flowerme plants but no tubers 



Grafting -Thi- 

 profitable mo I 

 cut slantmgh i 

 ward placed i 

 handj in iti 1 1 I 

 enou.,h I 

 and tl 



interesting though not 



The top of the tubtr is 



ittmg slantingly down 



I w ith ralHa or anj soft, 



1 I nit( 1 in a pot deep 



111 I ift with earth, 



, I hand glass 



I for the pres 



DAHLIA 



PLANTrac — There is a diversity of opinion as to the 

 proper time to plant Dahlias, l)ut the writer has always 

 found it best to plant early, and would advise planting 

 large, strong roots ut.oiii twn weeks before danger of 

 frost is over. Tbi- umuM l.i , in tlie vicinity of Phila- 

 delphia, about April I.'.: ;nMhi^it t:ikes from two to three 

 weeks forthe plants t..L'et up thmngh the ground, there 

 will be no danger, while the plants will bloom that much 

 earlier. It is best, however, not to plant small ro(jts or 

 green plants until danger of frost isover— in the vieinitv 

 of Philadelphia, about May 1 to Id, a, rding to tlie sea- 

 son. A good rule to folic. w . ,. i ,',Ih i, \i,,uld be to 

 plant small roots and green i ' .- .lunger of 



frost isover, and large root- I . .ksearlier. 



TiLLAOE.-The first rei|uiMi. ..i i, ^-liil garden 



cultivation is to thoroughly sur ilie si>il to eonsiderable 

 depth and enrich it if it is not already rich, by broad- 

 casting and plowing or spading in a good coat of well 

 rotted manure Too much stress cannot be placed upon 

 the thorough preparation cf the soil as it not onlj allows 



ervati 



- Jl 



tan be saved and will ~-~ v^ 



new varieties ^eeUs, iie j 



desire a mass of Cf lor and 



of finely formed blooms 



doors and trans] 1 uit 1 t t 



masses of col i i 



roots of the nj i 



give even bett i r season 



Position -]) : I i iIn destroyed by high 



•winds unless tin \ ir „i\ n a protected position an 1 

 they need plenty ot air and sunlight for best results In 

 shaded close, airless quarters the growth is sappj iiid 

 the flowers are poorly colored 



Soil.— The soil is not so imjiortant, except m its 

 ability to hold moisture durim,' severe droughts. Anj 

 rich soil that will grow c-oin will also tjrow Dahlias to 

 perfection, if all ot^her e.ni.liti.ins are favorable. They 

 will grow equally well in ele.n- saiul, clay or gravel, if 

 the proper kinds :iimI mhihi id. . ..f plant-food are added 



and well and tlei I in. It is, however, un 



reasonable to .m ■ i' . ..r any garden plants to 



s, easily baked 



■ f hull 



succeed in a Im 

 and never tilled 



Peedinq. — It is always best to broadcast the manure 

 and plow or spade it into the soil; thorough spading is 

 absolutely necessary if the manure is not well decom 

 posed. On heavy clay or gravelly soils, loose, 

 manure may be used, but on light or sandy soil 

 nure should always be fine and well-rotteS. 

 Commercial fertilizers are also largely used 

 and are most valuable w) 

 tion with manure. Any 

 in ammonia and phcis|ii 

 liberal amount of potasl., i i .i die 



nothing equals i.uie l...ii.> n;. al ami nitrate 

 of_soda, 4 parts l...ii.> t.. I |.art soda. ^ 



offered in ^^ 



Id roots 



kinds op [sToi k, - Da III 



five forms: lar^'e .hin.!.-. . 



pot roots, green |.|iiii .....I . . .1 -, Tli. .lunips 



give the best s:.i: : i .- ,.i-. but 

 are entirely to. . I . .. i. .any- 

 thing but a lo<- a I : ' . !■ ......ng 



amateurs. Tin' . . . ,..■ the 



most valuable, a ; afely 



handled, and ah' . ..-nits". 



Pot roots are l:i!_' .I :' ii ..ailing 



trade, and, -n-liile il..;.\vtll ....i ;.l'.\ a;, - -ivc as 

 good results the lirs'f year, are valuable for 

 shipping long distances, where larger roots 

 could not be profitably used owing to heavy 

 transportation charges. Green plants are 

 mainly used to make up any deficiency in the 

 field crops, owing to unfavorable seasons, or 

 an unusual demand for certain varieties. 



