22 THE DAHLIA. 



CHAPTER V. 



GARDEN CULTIVATION. 



HE garden is the place pre-eminently adapted to Dahlia culture. 

 It is here that they may be grown, in all their loveliness, with 

 so little care and expense that no lover of flowers can afford to 

 be without them. They grow so luxuriantly and bloom so 

 profusely that even a few plants, properly cared for, will furnish 

 a fresh bouquet almost daily from June until frost, while a col- 

 lection of the finer varieties are ever a source of great pleasure. 

 Dahlias are offered in five forms : Immense clumps, strong field roots, 

 pot roots, green plants and seeds (see next page for comparative sizes). 

 The clumps give the best results the first year, but are entirely too large 

 and unwieldy for anything but a local trade. The strong field roots are the 

 most valuable, as they can be easily and safely handled, and always give 

 satisfactory results. Pot roots are largely used in the mailing trade, and, 

 while they will not give as good results the first year, are valuable for ship- 

 ping 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. Many firms, who offer field roots only, send out strong green 

 plants, rather than disappoint their customers by returning their money, 

 after the supply of roots is exhausted. This I consider a very good plan, as 

 the plants will bloom equally as well if they receive careful attention, and 

 will make good roots for the following year. 



There is a diversity of opinion as to the proper time to plant Dahlias, 

 but I have always found it best to plant early and would advise planting 

 large, strong roots about two weeks before danger of frost is over. This 

 would be, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, about April i5th ; and as it takes 

 from two to three weeks for them to get up through the ground there will be 

 no danger, while your plants will bloom that much earlier. It is best, how- 

 ever, not to plant small roots or green plants until danger of frost is over in 

 the vicinity of Philadelphia, about the ist to the zothof May, according to the 

 season. Therefore, a good rule to follow everywhere would be to plant small 

 roots and green plants as soon as danger of frost is over and large roots about 

 two weeks earlier. 



