42 The Dahlia 



either in the middle or at the back, with a general 

 sloping tendency towards the front or outer rows. 

 Such an arrangement will conduce to the effectiveness 

 of the display during the flowering period. 



The grower who has tended his plants thus far 

 may imagine that, now that the season when frost is 

 apt to assail them is over, and his pets are established 

 in their more permanent quarters and supplied with 

 water enough to settle the soil at their roots, he may 

 rest on his oars for a little. He could not make a 

 greater mistake. There will still be abundant scope 

 for his energies. Even in June Dahlias have been 

 crippled by frost, so he will require to keep a sharp 

 look-out for a few nights. And, apart from this, there 

 are other dangers to be guarded against. 



ENEMIES SLUGS AND INSECTS 



Slugs are deadly foes when the skin of the plants 

 is young and tender. A smooth surface is some safe- 

 guard against their ravages, as it affords them few 

 hiding-places, and they can easily be seen on it when 

 out feeding in the evenings. Some lettuce seed sown 

 or lettuce leaves scattered among the plants will pro- 

 vide material to satisfy their tastes till the Dahlias 

 get well under way. 



Green fly and other insects may prove troublesome, 

 especially if the season be hot and dry, but careful 

 watering of the plants overhead of an evening will 

 lessen this danger. If they do not yield to this 

 treatment, an insecticide must be used. There is 

 none cheaper and few better than soft soap and water 

 used in the proportion of four ounces of soap to the 



