36 The Dahlia 



SOIL 



A rather heavy clayey loam, thoroughly well- 

 manured, is, without doubt, the best of all soils in 

 which to grow the Dahlia to perfection. In such a 

 soil the plants are usually of a dwarf and sturdy 

 habit ideal plants, in fact, to produce blooms of 

 grand size and desirable substance. In land naturally 

 light and rich there is a tendency to strong, soft, 

 watery growth, which not only gives additional trouble 

 in staking and tying, but is the forerunner of small 

 and inferior flowers. In order to improve such a soil 

 the best plan is to spread clay loam over its surface 

 during the early winter months, so that it may get 

 the benefit of frost and exposure previous to being in- 

 corporated with the natural surface soil. 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL 



Deep culture is, of course, advisable ; and what is 

 know r n as bastard trenching is perhaps the best 

 method. In all cases see that there is proper drainage. 

 Jf this be neglected, trenching in a clay soil may prove 

 worse than useless, merely serving to provide a re- 

 ceptacle for water. Digging operations cannot be 

 commenced too early in the autumn. Good results 

 are, however, often obtained by spring cultivation, as 

 the season is far advanced before the plants become 

 the tenants of the soil. In any case turn the ground 

 over several times, and each time leave it as rough 

 as possible that it may get all the benefits to be 

 derived from exposure. The manner in which the 

 plants are to be grown, and the distances apart at 



