54 The Amateur's Book of the Dahlia 



harrowing experience, and is frightened almost 

 to death in the large wide world with not a plant 

 nearer than three feet away. Next day the 

 sun is hot and the baby faints away until the 

 gardener gives it a drink of water. Or it is 

 storming hard and the rain and wind beat it and 

 spatter mud upon it or maybe it is completely 

 washed away! 



The newly arrived green plant should be 

 potted and allowed to rest for a week or more in 

 the cold frame. It should be shaded from the 

 bright sun and watered regularly. Gradually 

 "harden" it off, and take advantage of a cloudy 

 day when setting it out in its permanent place 

 in the garden. Even then shading may be nec- 

 essary if the weather turns hot. 



Green plants properly started, grown slowly, 

 and carefully tended during their early life will 

 make as fine and vigorous plants as any grown 

 direct from the tubers. If there are plenty of 

 tubers it is not, of course, worth while to take so 

 much trouble. Where tubers are scarce and the 

 variety is in demand, no amount of trouble is too 

 much if it does not interfere with the health of 

 the plant. 



Plants for shipping should be carefully se- 

 lected. They should always have small tubers, 

 and not too much foliage. Knock them out of 



