20 THE DAHLIA. 



was refunded. Now mark the sequel. The next year the flowers came perfectly double again, 

 but it was too late for the introducers; they had paid the penalty of their excessive greed. 



There are many reasons why these facts should be known by all who grow Dahlias, though 

 the main reason is that every variety will be grown at least two years, and not discarded because 

 they fail to come perfectly full the first year. Had this fact been universally known, it would 

 have saved considerable loss and disappointment, as, undoubtedly, many sorts discarded m the 

 past were really fine varieties. Therefore, if you purchase a new highly praised variety and it 

 should not answer quite to the description, do not condemn it too soon, but grow it at least 

 two more years. During this time it will, if properly cultivated, show its true characteristics; 

 ind if it still proves inferior, write to the source from which it was secured, making your 

 :omplaints. 



If this practice of waiting a year or two was always followed, many complaints would 

 never be written at all, as varieties are very apt to vary under diflferent conditions and according 

 to the seasons. A variety may be pure white this year, \'et come tinted pink next, and vice versa. 

 As an example I will mention the Decorative-Cactus Dahlia "Nymphjea." This variety, under 

 favorable conditions, is of a beautiful, clear, light shrimp pink color, and has a delicate refined 

 Water Lily fragrance, but is devoid of fragrance and almost pure white during an excessively 

 wet, cold and cloudy season, or very late in the autumn. Of course if an entirely distinct variety 

 is received it is something else, and a complaint together with a flower should be sent at once. 



Division of roots is not only the easiest and best, but far the cheapest of the three methods 

 of propagation, and the one followed, as far as possible by all growers. However, with new or 

 rare varieties, where it is not so much cost as quantity, division is entirely inadequate to the 

 occasion, as it would take several years to secure even a limited stock. Accordingly, new and 

 rare varieties are propagated from cuttings and offered as plants, or are grown another year 

 and offered as field, or pot roots, at a price within the reach of all. It will thus be seen that a 

 thorough knowledge of the art of propagation is ver\' useful, but that evil will always result 

 from its being carried too far. 



In buying Dahlias it is always wise to give strong field roots the preference, as they give the 

 best results the first year; but, as the roots are easily kept from year to year, the main object is 

 to get the best varieties, regardless of the form in which they are offered. 



It is well to state here that in some instances claims are made that the best results can be 

 obtained from plants, and, in other cases, that huge roots only will give the best results. This is 

 largely a matter of opinion and conditions, but I cannot gi^-e too strong a warning against 

 planting the same old roots from year to year. I would rather have a very small young root 

 or bulb than a very large old root. I have seen Dahlias grown and handled carelessly for several 

 years ; each year the new roots were broken and the old root planted until when they reached us 

 some tubers weighed several pounds each ; a series of crowns with eyes were on each of these 

 monster bulbs (not clumps of roots) . We cut off two-thirds of the bulb and split the top section 

 remaining to eyes, leaving in this way only enough to start the plant off, which immediately 

 made new tubers, and we harvested a splendid crop of young stock. 



These huge, several-year-old roots are generally hollow in the center if not actually decay- 

 ing. They send very strong shoots, but as they furnish so much to the plant quickly, it does not 

 throw out such strong, vigorous roots of its own, and is particularly susceptible to heat, drought 

 or any other unfavorable condition. 



For the strongest and most sturdy plant you want the shoot to send out its own feeding 

 roots, rather than to be nourished by the huge mother root. Therefore, in planting your Dahlias 

 cut away the two or more year-old roots, using only the new ones, and see how much better they 

 will grow. 



This is of course on the basis that you have handled your roots carefully. If all the young 

 roots have broken necks, you will have to plant the old one, but cut part of it away, so as to get a 

 good strong plant on its own feeding roots. 



