Propagation of the Dahlia 33 



house near the glass to harden a little before being 

 potted off. This is an important operation, for which 

 soil should be prepared some time before. A good 

 mixture is two parts turf or loam one of leaf soil, one 

 of spent hot-bed manure with a dash of sand. Tor this 

 potting 2^ inch pots are quite large enough. After 

 placing a little rough stuff in the bottom, fill up the 

 pot a third full with soil, and place the roots carefully 

 on this, keeping the plant to the centre. Fill up the 

 pot with soil and press moderately firm. Then place 

 in a warm frame with bottom heat, if possible, or a 

 warm greenhouse will do. Keep the plants close to 

 the glass and shaded for a few days, giving plenty of 

 air afterwards. Great care must be taken to keep the 

 plants sturdy at this stage, for if they become drawn 

 now it is impossible to make good plants later on. 

 For after treatment see chapter on " Cultivation." 



PROPAGATION BY DIVISIONS 



If facilities are not at hand for propagating by cut- 

 tings and yet an increase of some varieties is required, 

 a simple method is to start the roots into growth in 

 March. This can be done by placing them on a stage 

 in a warm house and watering them, and, when the 

 shoots are about an inch long, dividing the crowns 

 into three or four pieces, taking care to have a shoot or 

 more on each piece. Cut the bottom off the tuber, 

 so as to make it go into a four or five inch pot, in 

 which pot it. Place in a hot frame or warm corner 

 of a greenhouse, shade for a few days, and, when well 

 rooted, place in an airy position, and gradually harden 

 off as recommended for other plants. 



