Gardening for Amateurs 



481 



put them out of doors, they will be nice 

 sturdy plants. 



General Hints. The best Dahlias are 

 grown in the open fully exposed to sun 

 and air ; to obtain exhibition flowers this is 

 most necessary. 

 The distance 

 apart to plant 

 Dahlias varies 

 from 2 to 4 feet 

 according to the 

 variety, whether 

 dwarf and com- 

 pact in growth 

 or tall and wide- 

 spreading in 

 habit. The stak- 

 ing of the plants 

 is important. 

 In addition to a 

 strong central 

 stake it is worth 

 while using three 

 or four thinner 

 stakes also to 

 which the outer 

 shoots can be 

 secured. Thus 

 sun and air are 

 able to reach the 

 centre of the 

 plants and finer 

 flowers in greater 

 quantity are the 

 result. Thinning 

 the growths is 

 most important, 

 and disbudding 

 is necessary to 

 secure exhibition 

 blooms; these 

 practices are also 

 desirable, though 

 not to the same 

 extent, when the 

 flowers are grown 

 for garden decor- 

 ation. Remove the old flowers to pre- 

 vent the formation of seeds. Various 

 contrivances are used to protect flowers 

 intended for exhibition from hot sunshine; 

 some of these are illustrated on page 128. 

 Mulching with decayed manure towards the 

 31 



end of June is beneficial, more especially on 

 light soil. Water during dry weather, and 

 if the plants are not mulched with farm- 

 yard manure give several applications of 

 liquid fertiliser. 



Cactus Dahlia Satisfaction, white suffused with pink. 



When frosts put an end to their flowering 

 cut down the plants to within about 1 foot of 

 the ground. Lift the roots carefully without 

 breaking them, shake all (lie Inn.M- -oil away. 

 and store in a frost-proof shed or cellar. If 

 the position is dark and not very dry no 



