24 THE DAHLIA. 



The first requisite of successful garden cultivation is to thoroughly stir 

 the soil to considerable depth, and enrich it, if it is not already so, 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 of the soil, as 

 it not only allows the roots to go down deep after the moisture more readily 

 during dry weather, but affords good drainage during excessive rains. 

 Having prepared the soil as above, mark out rows four feet apart and six to 

 eight inches deep, and plant the roots from eighteen inches to three feet apart 

 in the row, according as you wish a solid row or specimen plants. If per- 

 fectly symmetrical specimen plants are wanted, they should be planted, at least 

 four feet apart each way, which allows plenty of room for the circulation of 

 air between the plants and a larger surface from which they can draw 

 nourishment and moisture. 



Before covering the roots, spread a small shovelful of well rotted manure 

 in each space between the roots, and a small handful of fertilizer to two 

 spaces, taking care that the manure and fertilizer does not come in contact 

 with the roots. This done, cover the rows with plow, hoe or any other con- 

 venient method. As soon as the shoots appear, remove all but the strongest 

 one and pinch that one off, thus forcing it to branch at the surface of the 

 ground. By this method the entire strength of the root and the soil is con- 

 centrated on the one shoot, causing it to grow vigorously ; while the pinching 

 or cutting back of the shoot not only causes it to branch at the surface and 

 thus brace it against all storms without staking, but also removes all of those 

 first imperfect, short- stemmed flowers that appear on some varieties. (See 

 cut page 23 showing how the plants branch, also illustration of field of 

 Nymphaea Dahlias, page 26, grown under this system without staking.) 



I am, I think, the first to use and advocate this method of cultivation, 

 and, by its practice, have grown many thousands of Dahlia blooms, on stems 

 from eighteen inches to two feet long ; selling them to florists, by the thou- 

 sands, for four times the ruling price of carnations, and. higher than that 

 asked for roses. 



During its early stage of development, the Dahlia grows very rapidly, 

 and should be kept thoroughly cultivated ; that is, the rows should be kept 

 scrupulously clean by frequent hoeings, and the space between the rows fre- 

 quently and deeply stirred. Among the many benefits thus derived is to 

 make the plant root deeply, but it must be remembered thai while deep cul- 

 tivation is beneficial during its early stage of development, it is almost fatal 

 to the production of flowers if practiced after the plants come into bloom. 

 Therefore, when your plants commence to bloom, cease deep cultivation and 

 stir the soil to the depth of one to two inches only, but stir it often, and never 

 allow the surface to become hard and baked. This will not only prevent exces- 

 sive evaporation of moisture and keep the under soil cool and moist, but will 

 also prevent the destruction of immense quantities of feeding roots. 



