water for two days, then replant and keep the 

 ground very moist. 



This treatment has not failed me in a single in- 

 stance. 



One of my patrons had one make a growth of 

 about eight inches, then stop. At the end of six 

 weeks from the time of planting, he took it up and 

 returned it to me. I treated it in the manner de- 

 scribed and it made one of the finest plants I had 

 that season and produced four fine tubers beside. 

 I had several last season that failed to start any 

 growth at all, not even the buds. But everyone of 

 them responded with the water treatment. 



Many tubers are dried out but do not show it on 

 account of being so fiberous, that they shrivel very 

 little if any at all. 



During the growing season, to the time they com- 

 mence to bloom, the soil must be kept stirred up or 

 cultivated to a depth of at least four inches but not 

 so deep close up to the plant or you will ruin the 

 tuber. 



You can be faithful in the use of water and fer- 

 tilizer, but unless the top soil is kept loose', your 

 dahlias will be but little short of failures. As soon 

 after each rain or watering that the soil will work 

 up in a mealy condition, not sticky, stir it up. After 

 they commence to bloom do not cultivate more than 

 two inches deep as the ground is packed full of little 

 fiberous roots that are gathering up the moisture 

 and plant food to produce the bloom and keep the 

 plant growing. 



These are the little workers that must be kept 



8 



