42 MARKET NURSERY WORK 



the frames will further supply the local market, and serve also 

 for planting out for stock purposes. 



DAHLIAS 



The Dahlia is not now so high in popular esteem as it was 

 a quarter of a century ago, but that has made little difference 

 in the demand, except for new varieties. Though it is appar- 

 ently less enthused over by the specialists, everybody who has a 

 garden will continue to plant it because of its intrinsic merits, 

 and we have little doubt that, as we gradually get back to normal 

 conditions, the " cult " will again take it up with all its old fervour. 

 We look upon it entirely as " good stock." 



To begin with, we cannot do better than take our stock plants 

 when they have finished their summer's work and have been cut 

 down by frost. We cut the growths down to within 2 or 3 inches 

 of the ground and carefully lift the root intact with a spade. 

 Shaking off the soil, we carry these roots to an airy shed or even 

 stand them on the stage of a greenhouse to dry. Then we stow 

 them away in a warm, dry place for the winter, after carefully 

 tying the name to every one. 



In February we bring them out, clean and trim them, and 

 place them in a warm greenhouse, so that early in March they 

 begin to put out young shoots. When considerable numbers 

 are handled these stock roots are neither potted nor boxed, 

 but are half covered with earth, kept moist, and a position 

 is chosen for them ensuring both heat and light. As a rule, 

 each root throws up quite a large number of shoots and each 

 of these is a potential cutting which, if cut close to its base 

 where its wood is most solid, will, under proper conditions, 

 almost inevitably strike. It must not be allowed to grow more 

 than 3 inches before being taken, otherwise the wood will be hollow 

 and useless as a cutting. Though the Dahlia is a very soft-wooded 

 plant, and in the cutting state peculiarly susceptible to 

 " damping off," the risk is greatly minimised by taking the 

 cuttings in the woody state described. 



Insert in store pots, 48's are the best size, using light sandy 

 soil with a surface of silver sand. When finished, the pots should 

 be immersed in a pail of water and then plunged in the 



