116 The Amateur's Book of the Dahlia 



which cling tenaciously to the soil. The slender 

 necks may easily be strained by them and much 

 harm done if care is not exercised. 



First cut down the stalk to within an inch or 

 so from the surface of the soil. Pull up the 

 stake slowly and carefully and, removing the 

 label, attach it to the stalk. The safest way to 

 do this is to force the wire through the stalk, 

 fastening like an earring. The drying of the 

 stalk during the winter shrinks it, and a label 

 whose wire is tied around it will easily slip off in 

 handling. When all the stakes and rubbish 

 have been cleared away get two people to do the 

 digging, if you value your roots. Have them 

 stand opposite one another on each side of the 

 plant, and, armed with spading forks, loosen 

 the soil a foot or more away from and around the 

 stalk. Then, simultaneously, they should drive 

 the forks as far down as possible, making certain 

 that the prongs are well under the deeply rooted 

 plants, and both together heave. Do not 

 shake off any soil from the clump. If soil and 

 roots make a compact mass, all the better, for in 

 handling, the tubers are held rigidly in place 

 and cannot be broken. Tip the clump upside 

 down at once so that all the water may drain out 

 while the next clump is being dug. 



Before nightfall bring the clumps under cover 



