24 THE DAHLIA. 



CHAPTER V 



GARDEN CULTIVATION. 



THE garden is the place preeminently adapted to Dahlia culture. It is here that they may 

 be grown, in all their loveliness, with so little care and expense that no lover of flowers 

 can afford to be without them. They grow so luxuriantly and bloom so profusely that 

 even a few plants, properly cared for, will furnish a fresh bouquet almost daily from June 

 until frost, while a collection of the finer varieties are ever a source of great pleasure. 



Dahlias are offered in five forms : Immense clumps, strong field roots, pot roots, green 

 plants and seeds (see next page for comparative sizes). The clumps give the best results the 

 first year, but are entirely too large and unwieldy for anything but a local trade. The strong 

 field roots are the most valuable, as they can be easily and safely handled, and always give satis- 

 factory results. Pot roots are largely used in the mailing trade, and, while they will not give as 

 good results the first year, are valuable for shipping long distances where larger roots could not 

 be profitably used, owing to heavy transportation charges. 



Green plants are mainly used to make up any deficiency in the field crops, owing to unfav- 

 orable seasons, or an unusual demand for certain varieties. Many firms, who offer field roots 

 only, send out strong green plants, rather than disappoint their customers by returning their 

 money, after the supply of roots is exhausted. This I consider a very good plan, as the plants 

 will bloom equally as well if they receive careful attention, and will make good roots for the 

 following year. 



There is a diversity of opinion as to the proper time to plant Dahlias, but I have always 

 found it best to plant early, and would advise planting large, strong roots about two weeks before 

 danger of frost is over. This would be, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, about April ISth, and as 

 it takes from two to three weeks for them to get up through the ground, there will be no 

 danger, while your plants will bloom that much earlier. It is best, however, not to plant small 

 roots or green plants until danger of frost is over — in the vicinity of Philadelphia about the 

 1st of May to the 10th of May, according to the season. Therefore, a good rule to follow every- 

 where would be to plant small roots and green plants as soon as danger of frost is over and 

 large roots about two weeks earlier. 



However, if you wish special flowers, say, for exhibition in September, would advise planting 

 about June 1st to 10th, and as late as July for exhibition blooms in October. 



The first requisite of successful garden cultivation is to thoroughly stir the soil to consid- 

 erable depth, and enrich it, if it is not already so, by broadcasting and plowing or spading in a 

 good coat of well rotted manure. Too much stress cannot be placed upon the thorough prepa- 

 ration of the soil, as it not only allows the roots to go down deep after the moisture more readily 

 during dry weather, but affords good drainage during excessive rains. Having prepared the soil 

 as above, mark out rows four feet apart and six to eight inches deep, and plant the roots from 

 eighteen inches to three feet apart in the row, according as you wish a solid row or specimen 

 plants. If perfectly symmetrical specimen plants are wanted, they should be planted at least four 

 feet apart each way, which allows plenty of room for the circulation of air between the planf^ 

 and a larger surface from which they can draw nourishment and moisture. 



SINGLE STEM BRANCHING SYSTEM. 



Before covering the roots, spread a small shovelful of well rotted manure in each space 

 between the roots, and a small handful of fertilizer to two spaces, taking care that the manure 



