The Dahlia and its Care in Fall 



T is nearly a hundred years since the 

 first double-flowered dahlias were pro- 

 duced, and, after many ups-and- 

 ||owns, the dahlia has recently had a 



An Amateur Gardener 

 At residence of Mr. T. H. Taylor, Hamilion 



Col. H. P. Van Wagner, Hamilton 



a mixture of four parts of bone meal and 

 one part of nitrate of soda. Dry sheep 

 manure (sold by seed men) lightly raked 

 in the soil is a convenient form of fer- 

 tilizer. It is generally 

 advisable to commence 

 to feed the plant as soon 

 as it comes into flower. 

 Too rich a soil results in 

 large plants and few 

 flowers, therefor it is 

 advisable to apply the 

 fertilizer when needed. 



WHEN TO PICK 



September is the month 

 for dahlias. It is thf^n 

 in perfection, as it de- 

 lights in a cool, humid 

 atmosphere. It will not 

 do well in a hot, dry 

 summer. In a very 

 renewed popularity. This is largely due hot season, I have found dahlias to do 

 to the introduction of improved varieties better in a partially shaded situation. The 

 of the cactus-flowering sorts, which are best flowers are on young plants, and if 

 more graceful for cutting than the older large, perfect blossoms are desired, pick 

 varieties. The improved single-flowered off the side buds. Dahlia blooms should, 

 sorts, especially the "century" family, if possible, always be cut before sunrise 

 are also very fine for cutting, while, in or after sunset, and immediately put in a 

 the decorative class the new peony-flow- pail of water and put in a cellar or other 

 ered dahlias, with their bold, artistic cool place, and left there for six hours 

 lowers, of elegant form and beautiful before being shipped or otherwise dis- 

 |oIors, supply an entirely new foim if posed of. By changing the water every 

 lis class. Now, each year gives man<- 

 lew varieties of dahlias of such wonder 

 tul form and color that hundreds who 

 Sever cultivated the old-fashioned dahlias 

 ptre now growing the newer typjs. As 

 ^e dahlia is of the easiest culture, and 

 "ts varieties of every conceivable color, 

 iheir culture cannot fail to give satisfac- 

 tion to the lover of flowers. 



It is now too late to write oi the soil 

 an<l cultivation best adapted to the 

 dahlia, further than to remark that the ^ 

 deep cultivation which was beneficial at 

 the early stages of the dahlia's growth, 

 should cease as soon as the plant comes 

 into bloom. After that the surface of 

 the soil should be kept well cultivated to 

 the depth of an inch or two, to conserve 

 the moisture. The frequent stirring of 

 ■ the soil will give better results than wat- 

 ering, but wh(?l-e dahlias are planted near 

 trees or shrubs which take the moisture 

 from the soil, it is well in dry weather 

 to water them. Dahlia* Growing in 



FBRTILIZING Ke«ideuce of Mr. H. R 



Sonu-times the flowers of dahlias, which morning, clipping the stems a little, and 



have come intf) bloom early, gradually setting the base or bowl in a pan of cold 



lx:come smaller and smaller. This gen- water in a cool place at night, the flowers 



crnlly results from a lack of plant food can b" made to last a week, 



in the soil. This may be prevented by There are few insects affecting the 



ijroadcasting around the plant a small dahlia. The chinch bug sometimes eats 



quantity of some good fertilizer, such as off the buds. The best remedy is to 



IK 



spray with Paris green. If planted near 

 a meadow, grasshoppers often destroy 

 the blooms. 



FALL TREATMENT OF TUBERS 



The dahlia root should not be lifted 

 until a week after the frost has killed 

 the plant. This gives the tubers time 

 to ripen, and they ripen much better after 

 the tops have been killed than before, 

 and the tubers are not so liable to shriv- 

 el up during the winter. Cut the stalks 

 off within six inches of the tubers, re- 

 move all the soil possible, allow them to 

 dry, then place in a cellar or other place 

 secure from frost. Place in barrels or 

 boxes and cover with dry, clean sand. 

 Some growers use tanbark oi sawdust, 

 but I have never used anything but sand. 

 Some growers lift the roots early in the 

 morning of a bright day, place the roots 

 upwards without removing the soil from 

 the roots, let them dry in the sun for half 

 a day, then remove to cellar, and place 

 in a box or on a shelf. I have found this 

 to work well on light soils, but on heavy 

 soils the tubers are likely to decay. If 

 the roots are left uncovered in a dry 

 cellar, they will shrivel and lose their 

 vitality. If covered with damp sand or 

 soil, they will decay. Many say that 

 any treatment which will keep the potato 

 during the winter, will keep the dahlia 

 equally well. This has not been my ex- 



Front of a Verandah 

 Nixon, St. George, Ont. 



perience, although tubers ol early plant- 

 ed roots, well ripened, will often keep 

 well uncovered in a cellar. 



Photographs of horticultural interest 

 are always welcome for publii;iiif>n in 

 The Can.^dian HoRxicuLTinrs i 



