26 A LITTLE GARDEN THE YEAR ROUND 



sensuousness, but very truly one of design and 

 strong color. One must remember that Dah- 

 lias in the garden present quite a different 

 problem than may be suggested by a collection 

 of the flowers in an exhibition, and for this 

 reason the home garden-maker can well afford 

 to devote some study to the matter of the 

 choice of specimens for garden display. 

 Nearly all of the Dahlias of the single types 

 may be grown successfully by the amateur 

 gardener. 



Dahlias should have a good garden soil, 

 which must not be kept overly moist else suc- 

 culence in the Dahlia plants and an over-tall 

 growth will be induced. A moderate watering 

 of once a week or so should prove sufficient. 

 However, these periodical waterings should 

 not be mere sprinklings, but should, instead, 

 soak the soil thoroughly. The earth must not 

 be allowed to become packed around the base 

 of the plant stems, for in keeping the soil 

 worked up by cultivation depends success in 

 Dahlia culture. Should the soil in which 

 Dahlias are planted be a sandy one, a top- 

 dressing composed of one part of nitrate of 

 soda to four parts of bone meal, well mixed 



