BULBS FOR SUMMER BLOOMING 69 



that will keep the ground moist, mellow and free 

 from weeds ; stirred up, they are of little benefit. 



But if one wishes to grow dahlias for cut flowers 

 and wishes to produce notable blooms that will make 

 the professional florists sit up and take notice, he 

 should start the tubers in the open ground about the 

 middle of May, making a big, deep hole and laying 

 the tuber, live eye up, therein at a depth of about 

 four inches and cover with not more than two inches 

 of soil at the start, adding the remainder as the plant 

 increases is size, for too deep covering of the tuber at 

 the start is the cause of much failure in dahlia cul- 

 ture. And the planting should not be in formal beds 

 in the garden, but down in the vegetable garden 

 where they can receive the same cultivation given the 

 com, for that is just the sort of care the dahlia 

 thrives under, and not any exotic, professional treat- 

 ment ; just plain, everyday garden- culture, with a 

 horse cultivator if possible or a hand cultivator if 

 the garden is small. This and plenty of water will- 

 give the best that can be produced in this magnificent 

 class of plants. 



The dahlia has its enemies, though some years they 

 are little in evidence, and these are less troublesome 

 in open-field culture than in the flower garden. The 

 aphis, or green fly, is often in evidence, but can 

 usually be controlled by an emulsion of tobacco stems 

 in water or tobacco soap, sprayed on the plants; an 



