Cultivation of the Dahlia 43 



gallon of water. Tobacco powder dusted on the points 

 of the shoots will also do away with green fly. Do 

 not use insecticides when the plants are in bloom. 



In some localities earwigs are dangerous pests, 

 eating not only the buds and flowers, but even the 

 young shoots in the earlier stages. The best method 

 of holding them in check is by trapping them in 

 small pots placed on the top of the stakes. The pots 

 should contain a little moss or paper to encourage 

 them to take shelter. From time to time the insects 

 may be shaken out into a bucket of water. Another 

 method is to catch them at night, when feeding, by 

 means of a lamp. 



THINNING 



To return to the plants again. They will now be 

 making growth and will need careful tying, and the 

 side shoots will need staking. Thinning of the shoots 

 must be attended to, if large fine blooms be desired. 

 This more especially applies to the Show and Fancy 

 classes, and, in a limited degree, to the Cactus-flowered 

 section. Pompons and single varieties are usually 

 allowed to retain all their shoots, and to mature all 

 the buds which form on them. 



In the SHOW AND FANCY section the four strongest 

 side shoots near the base of the plant should be 

 secured and carefully staked and tied. When the 

 plant has made further growth, other four shoots, 

 several joints above the last, may be taken. These, 

 with the centre stem, will be sufficient, too many 

 perhaps, and all the others may be removed. From 

 these branches further growths will spring but only to 



