IN THE FRONT YARD. 263 



tiful, but if they are not roses or carnations from the 

 greenhouse there is little call for them, while the larger 

 cities appreciate things on their merit. 



For cut floAvers some of the finer forms are of ex- 

 quisite beauty and the marvelous variety of shape and 

 color make them all that v^e can ask for. 



PROPAGATION. 



There are four methods. Division of roots, by cut- 

 tings, by grafting, and by seeds. Increasing by cut-, 

 tings and grafting is done mostly in greenhouses. The 

 other two processes can be used by the amateur, for they 

 are very simple. 



One day I was in the store of a florist in Omaha and 

 a lady asked : ''Why won't my Dahlias grow. I sepa- 

 rated the roots and planted the tubers ; but not more 

 than a fourth grew at all." The florist replied, ''Were 

 you careful to have a bud on every root ?" 



"N^o ; I never thought it necessary." 



"Things can't ^row without a- head," was the reply. 

 ^NTow a large paeony root, broken off near the crown 

 forming a ]>erfect tuber, will take a year to put a 

 head on itself; but the dahlia cannot do this and so 

 must have a head to begin with. Note this then : in 

 dividing your clumps have a bud with every tuber and 

 if some tubers have no eyes leave them to help out 

 those that have, thereby giving it extra force. Take up 

 your roots in the fall before the hard freezes or frosts 

 come on. Dry them and store them in a cool cellar 

 where they will not freeze. If there is danger of the 



