CONTENTS 



rAoa 



Foreword ix 



Introduction xvii 



CHAPTEB 



I. History 1 



II. Early Dahlia Culture .... 11 



III. Situation 20 



IV. Soil — Composition and Preparation 26 



V. Propagation 40 



VI. Breeding 61 



VII. Cultivating — Planting, Staking, 



Fertilizing 80 



VIII. Cultivating, Watering, Disbranch- 

 ing, Disbudding — Dahlias in Tubs 97 

 IX. Frosts; Lifting and Storing . 113 



X. Pests and Remedies 124 



XI. Cutting, Packing, Shipping . . . 146 



XII. Dahlia Shows 156 



XIII. Colour Combinations in the Gar- 



den AND AS House Decorations . 179 



XIV. Varieties 195 



XV. Classification and Chart . . . 213 



Index 311 



