1 1 2 The Dahlia 



that they are more difficult to ship, being in danger 

 of drying out on the one hand, or sweating during 

 transit on the other. 



Eoots cut to a single eye may be planted in a 

 trench or hole so as to be 6 inches below the level, 

 and the soil gradually filled in as the stem develops. 



With regard to the lifting and storing for winter, 

 the self-same conditions that govern the Dahlia in 

 Europe prevail in America too. Eoots are lifted 

 sometime in November, and stored where they are 

 free from frost and will not rot. The cellar of a 

 dwelling-house where there is a furnace is an ideal 

 place. The roots may be covered with ashes, after 

 having been allowed to dry off a little, and so stored. 

 In. the spring they will start into growth, and may be 

 carried into the open air in some half-shaded spot 

 and simply not planted until the middle of June at 

 the earliest. It is best to plant in full exposure, as 

 the stems then develop more sturdily and are able to 

 resist winds. 



As to the question of feeding, much very much 

 indeed depends upon the nature of the soil itself. In 

 a light sandy soil a mixture of four parts bone-meal and 

 one part nitrate of soda as a top-dressing after the plant 

 is well up is recommended. On ordinarily good soils 

 a mixture of bone black and acid phosphate has given 

 full satisfaction so far as both quality and quantity of 

 bloom were concerned, but there appeared to be a 

 tendency in this treatment to make small tubers, and 

 in some cases indeed no tubers at all were lifted at 

 the close of the season. 



In the matter of watering debatable ground is again 

 entered. The best blooms that I have seen have come 



