THE DAHLIA 81 



For Attaining Large Flowers. If the soil is carefully and 

 diligently cultivated there will be little need for watering, which is 

 detrimental unless consistently practised. Thorough watering should 

 be given each time and at regular intervals; otherwise plants will be 

 checked and flowers will suffer. 



In order that each individual flower may be as large as possible, 

 especially in the case of the show and fancy types, which produce a 

 great many flowers of medium size, it is best to disbud the main branches 

 leaving only the terminal bud. It is often best to allow only six or 

 eight branches. The singles, collarettes and pompons are rarely 

 pruned or disbudded,' the idea being to get plants with as many flowers 

 as possible. The cactus varieties are apt to have their weak neck 

 habit intensified by excessive pruning and disbudding, so that they 

 should be cautiously disbudded, removing only part of the buds. 



Flowers are best cut in the morning or evening and any foliage 

 not wanted should be removed. The stems should then be placed in 

 water up to the base of the flowers and removed to a cool place. Hard- 

 stemmed veirieties are best placed in hot water and allowed to remain 

 until the water cools, when they "should be removed to fresh cold 

 water. Under no circumstances attempt to ship for exhibition with- 

 out the pre-cooling. 



Storage. When the Autumn killing frosts arrive, perhaps in 

 mid-October, and the foliage is killed, take up the plants and allow 

 them to dry a little in the sun. Cut ofl^ the old stems so that a stub 

 of three inches is left. Then place them in a cellar where temperature 

 will surely remain above freezing, about forty to forty-five degrees F. 

 They may best be placed with the stems down on shelves and covered 

 with soil or sand. With large tubers it will be unnecessary to cover 

 them; merely place them in a heap on shelf or floor, keeping the stems 

 to outside. Do not let them get dried out; if they shrivel, sprinkle a 

 little water over them. Ijf kept too moist they soon mildew. 



The Raising of Dahlias from Seed. This is fascinating 

 work, particularly the single forms. Of these, if the seed is sown in a 

 frame or greenhouse in March, the plants will come into bloom in 

 July; and they wiU flower finely if the seed is sown where it is to re- 

 main, the same as most of the annuals. The seed of the double Dahhas 

 should be sown in February or March, and the plants grown on the 

 same as if from cuttings. With good care they wiU come into flower 

 early in September, when the pleasure commences. The certainty of 

 getting something good, and the possibiUty of getting a flower worthy 

 a name, possibly better than any of the existing forms or varieties, 

 makes this branch of floriculture more interesting than any other. 



The young seedlings should be set close together, not more than 



