supplied or other wise, the plant can not keep grow- 

 ing and blooming. When the blooms begin to get 

 small, it is due to the fact that they are not getting 

 enough water or fertilizer, or both are lacking. 

 There are those who discontinue cultivating when 

 the blooming season starts, mulching with coarse 

 manure or something of that nature. Do not let 

 the mulching come in contact with the base of the 

 plants as the moisture is liable to bring on an attack 

 of root Aphis, causing the plants to frequently rot 

 off. 



In a warm, dry climate, extra precautions are 

 needed to see that the dahlias do not suffer for the 

 want of sufficient moisture, both overhead and in 

 the ground. 



Where the soil is sandy and loamy, does not pack 

 down and dry out hard, overhead watering will do, 

 this has reference to those sprinklers that revolve, 

 throwing the water in large circles like a gentle rain. 

 It requires several hours for the ground to become 

 thoroughly saturated. The water will not harm the 

 bloom with the exception of some of the white 

 varieties. If the ground is hard, some irrigating 

 may have to be done in addition. 



If the plants are in rows dig a small furrow on 

 each side of the plants, about twelve inches from 

 them and let the water run slowly in the furrows un- 

 til the ground is well soaked. As a rule the ground 

 on the second day after watering is in good condi- 

 tion for cultivating. The soil that I have packs 

 down and I am writing this from personal experi- 

 ence. Last season I tried out one of those crescent 

 lawn sprinklers; they are about ten inches in dia- 

 meter and screw on to the end of the hose, laying 



