CHAPTER V 



PROPAGATION 



PROPAGATION is merely a process whereby 

 a given plant may, by one means or an- 

 otfier, be increased to as many as desired. There 

 are several methods practised among dahlia 

 growers. 



An old French botany, dated 1803, suggests 

 that, in order to increase the dahlia plants and 

 to prevent overcrowding of the roots, the gar- 

 dener should rake away the winter mulch in 

 early April, and force a spade through the mid- 

 dle of the clump! Thus, it states, by trans- 

 planting half the old clump elsewhere, twice as 

 many bushes may be grown. 



I have known gardeners, even in these en- 

 lightened days, to do this to peonies, and then 

 wonder why they did not bloom. Such mur- 

 derous methods of division will discourage even 

 the fortitude of the most vigorous of dahlias, 

 and we cannot wonder at the reported losses 

 of plants during the early years of their career 

 in Europe. 



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