Cultivation of the Dahlia 45 



FEEDING 



Accompanying this staking and thinning process, 

 there will be the necessary attention to the root 

 wants. When the plants begin to grow, a good 

 mulching of manure will not only mitigate the effects 

 of drought, but will give a supply of plant food at the 

 same time. If the soil be of heavy texture, stimulants 

 may be supplied from time to time without danger, 

 and they will be more especially necessary after the 

 buds are formed. This may be done in the way of 

 top dressing with a good artificial fertiliser, or water- 

 ing with liquid manure. Watering in dry weather 

 must not be neglected, or points of value on the Show 

 day will be lost. 



EXHIBITION BLOOMS 



After such labour and care have been exercised, 

 it will be but reasonable to expect good exhibition 

 flowers. There is, however, " many a slip 'twixt cup 

 and lip," and well-grown plants and promising buds 

 may end in bitter disappointment. In order that a 

 bloom may always be forthcoming when wanted, choose 

 buds at different stages of forwardness, and give pre- 

 ference to those with a very tiny hole in the centre, 

 as they usually produce reliable blooms. Earwigs 

 often step in at this stage, and their ravages result in 

 the deformed or eaten florets with which a flower will 

 not be first-rate on the exhibition table. If these 

 insects are about in any number, preventive measures 

 should be adopted. Trapping has already been dealt 

 with. In some districts it is customary to enclose 



