Gardening in Californi 



planting also, the soil, immediately about where the young plants 

 are to be set, should be freely stirred to the depth of a foot ; after 

 planting, give the soil a good soaking of water and tie the young 

 stems to temporary stakes. As the Dahlia is a gross feeder,, 

 water must be supplied in abundance about three times a week, 

 and, after flowering commences, manure-water should be given 

 once every week; this will give greater depth of color and sub- 

 stance to the flowers and more vigor to the plants, enabling them 

 to make fresh growth and a longer continuance of bloom. 



Propagation is effected by seeds, cuttings or division of the 

 roots ; by seeds sown and covered to the depth of a quarter of an 

 inch, in February; by cuttings, in March, taken from the young 

 shoots which start from the neck of the tubers; by division in 

 early Spring before growth commences. Young plants raised 

 from cuttings generally give better results. To get good cuttings, 

 the tubers should be placed in a frame with a gentle bottom 

 heat. Place the tubers about a foot apart over the bed of the 

 frame and shake about one inch of soil, composed of half leaf- 

 mold and half sand, over the tubers, care being taken that the 

 necks of the tubers are not covered; give a light sprinkling of 

 water and keep the sash of the frame closed so as to have a warm 

 moist atmosphere at all times, while a light sprinkling of water 

 should be given once a day. This will be sufficient to induce the 

 production of shoots, and each of these may be removed, if 

 required, as soon as it has two joints. Place the cuttings in a 

 warm frame or hothouse in beds, boxes or pots in leaf-soil and 

 sand, where, in about a week or ten days, roots will be formed; 

 as soon as rooted they should be potted singly in three-inch pots 

 and placed in the same temperature where they,,should remain 

 for two weeks or until they take with the new soil^; they should 

 then be removed to a cold frame, and gradually exposed to the 

 open air. They should be given more pot-room as required, or 

 planted out where they are to flower. After the plants are 

 finished blooming in the Fall, the tubers should be taken up and 



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