THE DAHLIA. 41 



There are but few insects affecting Dahlias in America, and these are 

 easily disposed of by hand picking. The brown cut worm will sometimes 

 cut off small shoots ; as they will shoot up again, destroy the worm, and but 

 little damage is done. The black aster bug sometimes attack the flowers 

 but are easily picked off, as are also the spotted cucumber beetle a small 

 yellowish green, black spotted beetle about oue- fourth to three-eighths of an 

 inch long, that feeds on the shoots and flowers. As these insects are but few 

 and scattering, and as mildew is seldom seen, the Dahlia can, practically, be 

 called free from insects and diseases, 



Dahlias can be planted as late as July ist, and still bloom profusely 

 before frost, as may be seen from the field view on opposite page. This 

 enables every gardener to have plenty of superb flowers during September 

 and October, by planting Dahlias where early garden crops have been re- 

 moved, and thus at the same time turn what would be a waste of weeds into 

 a lovely flower garden. Yonng plants always produce larger flowers than 

 those that have been blooming all summer ; this is only a hint for those who 

 wish to grow prize flowers for the comiug Dahlia Kxhibitions. 



The scene opposite represents one row each of the Semi-dwarf (long 

 stem dwarf) Dahlias, A. D. Livoni and Arabella, with the standard varieties 

 on either side, and is intended to demonstrate the value of early flowering 

 Dwarf varieties, over the later flowering tall varieties, during drouth and for 

 late planting. This scene also shows the advantage of the single stem 

 branching system, over the old method of tying to tall stakes. 



While Dahlia roots may be ^asily divided, it is much better to plant the 

 same clumps from year to year, and, if but one shoot is allowed to grow, it 

 will make an enormous plant and produce hundreds of flowers. Specimen 

 plants of Mrs. Dexter and Crimson Giant will grow eight to ten feet high and 

 four to five feet across, if enormous clumps are planted in rich soil and 

 liberally fed, while the Dwarf varieties will resemble an immense bouquet. 



