THE DAHLIA. 



CHAPTER III. 



PROPAGATION. 



HERE are four methods by which Dahlias are propagated ; by 

 cuttings, division of roots, and by grafting to perpetuate ex- 

 isting kinds, and by seeds to produce new varieties. 



Division of Roots . This is the easiest and most satisfac- 

 tory to amateurs, and is so simple as to scarcely need descrip- 

 tion. As the eyes are not on the individual tubers but on the 

 crown to which the tubers are attached, care must be taken 

 that each division has at least one eye. It is therefore best to start the eyes 

 by placing the roots in a warm, moist place a short time before dividing. 

 The roots are sometimes placed in a hot-bed, and the shoots grown to con- 

 siderable size, then divided and set out as plants ; but as this plan has many 

 drawbacks, I would not advise it. 



By Cuttings. This method is used mainly by commercial gro\vers, and 

 though the amateur may easily propagate plants successfully, the attention 

 a few cuttings would require would be so great that it would be cheaper to 

 buy the plants. However, as it may be of interest to some, I will describe 

 how Dahlias are propagated by this method on commercial places. The roots 

 are planted closely in benches in the greenhouse early in January, and cut- 

 tings are made from the young shoots as fast as they c orm 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 

 two or three inches apart and about a half inch between the cuttings. The 

 propagating bench is made by running a flue, hot water or steam pipes be- 

 neath an ordinary bench, and boarding up the sides to confine the heat. Al- 

 though there may be a difference of opinion among propagators, yet a bottom 

 or sand heat of 65 degrees, with the temperature of the house from 5 to 10 

 degrees less, will give the best practical results. With this temperature the 

 cuttings w r ill root in about two weeks, and will be far stronger than if rooted 

 in less time with greater heat. As soon as the cuttings 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. 



By Grafting. This is a very interesting, though not profitable, mode of 

 propagation. The top of the tuber is cut slantingly upward, and the cutting 

 slantingly downward, placed together and tied with any soft, handy material. 



