EXHIBITING THE DAHLIA 



AFTER the instructions given for producing exhibition 

 blooms have been followed, the question of preparing 

 them for the Show naturally arises. First provide a 

 sufficient number of wooden cups and tin tubes ; also 

 a board for staging them on, which should be of the 

 following dimensions, for a dozen blooms : 24 inches 

 long, 18 inches wide, 9 inches high at the back, and 

 3 inches high in front, with holes 6 inches apart, 

 painted a dark olive green and varnished. A box or 

 cupboard should also be provided to carry them to the 

 Show without injury. 



Cut the blooms in early morning or late at night, 

 when the sun is not shining. When cut draw the 

 stalk through the wooden cup, and plug with a slice 

 of rhubarb or turnip to fix the bloom (see illustration 

 on opposite page) ; then insert the wooden cup into 

 the tin tube, which should be full of water. This will 

 keep the bottom petals from being bruised. They 

 can then be placed in the stand and travelling-case. 

 In staging care should be taken to arrange the colours 

 harmoniously, putting the largest blooms in the back 

 row, the medium-sized ones in the middle row, and 

 the smallest in front. Place the most striking blooms 

 and colours at the corners, such as a good scarlet, 



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