DAHLIAS 67 



mediately all fear from frost is over, but the end of May will 

 be quite early enough, or even the first part of June in cold 

 places. The young succulent growths of the Dahlia quickly 

 suffer from low temperature, and as the month of May is 

 sometimes very treacherous, the young plants should be given 

 slight protection at night. Spring-rooted (young) plants are 

 preferable to old roots. When the plants are thoroughly 

 established in their permanent quarters, a stout stake should be 

 driven into the ground a little distance from the main stem. 

 This must be securely tied with strong tar twine, and four 

 or five thinner stakes placed round each plant. Carefully tie 

 out the flower producing branches. Keep the centre of the 

 plants well thinned out so as not to impede light and air, so 

 important in the production of shapely flowers. If the latter 

 are required for exhibition limit each shoot to one flower, all 

 the others, of course, being removed in the early stages of 

 development. Dahlias must not be crowded, five feet apart 

 each way being not too much for kinds of vigorous growth. 

 It is more satisfactory to give a few plants proper room to 

 develop than to grow double the number on a space suffi- 

 ciently large for half the number. In very dry seasons a 

 mulching of decayed manure is advisable to prevent moisture 

 in the soil escaping too quickly. When the flower-buds are 

 formed applications of liquid manure are beneficial. 



Propagation. Of the several ways of raising Dahlias only 

 two are practised on anything like a large scale. These are 

 (i) by cuttings, and (2) by seed. In order to raise plants from 

 cuttings take the old roots in spring, generally about the 

 middle or end of February, and plant them in pots or boxes, or 

 on a bed of ordinary soil on a shelf near the glass, in a tem- 

 perature of about 60 degs. After planting give a good water- 

 ing and occasional dampings until growth begins. When the 

 shoots are a few inches long, take them off as near the roots 

 as possible and insert each one in the centre of a small 

 thumb-pot, after which remove to a hot-bed or a close case 

 with bottom heat. Plunge the pots to the rim, water over- 

 head, keep the lights close, and protect from the sun by mats, 

 tiffany, &c., rolled over the glass. When rooted through, 

 which will occur in a fortnight's time, they should be taken 

 to cooler quarters and grown on in larger pots. Before 

 planting-time the plants should be thoroughly hardened off. 

 Stand them in a cold frame, and a week or so before planting- 

 time remove the lights altogether. 



Raising from Seed. Dahlias are raised readily from seed 

 sown in February or March in a brisk heat. When of suf- 

 ficient size the seedlings should be planted in small pots and 



