THE DAHLIA 239 



If sheets are thrown over the plants in fall, when 

 frosty nights come, the season of blooming can be 

 prolonged considerably, for they will go on flowering 

 till killed. The cool weather of autumn gives us some 

 very fine flowers from the Dahlia. 



After a frost has turned the tops of the plants 

 black cut them ofif, and on a sunny, warm day lift the 

 roots, and let them lie in the sunshine till the earth 

 will crumble from them readily. Cover at night, but 

 expose to the effects of the sun again next day. 

 Repeat this for two or three days, then store away in 

 the cellar where they will keep cool and dry. They 

 can be kept safely where a Potato winters well. 



It is hardly worth while to give a list of desirable 

 sorts in a book like this, as new ones are being 

 added each year, and old ones are being dropped, as 

 newcomers supplant them in merit. Consult the cata- 

 logs of the florists, and select to suit your taste, in 

 regard to color and class. But — ^be sure to have at 

 least half a dozen of them, if you want your garden 

 beautiful after the annuals have completed their work 

 for the season. Typical forms of double Dahlias are 

 seen in Fig 6i. 



