Propagation 55 



the pots when quite wet, roll the ball of earth 

 in cloth, and tie. (Paper is liable to melt away, 

 allowing the soil to shake free from the roots.) 

 This cloth should, of course, be removed when 

 planting out. Pack in a strong box with ex- 

 celsior to keep them rigidly in place. If possible, 

 perforate the box for the sake of ventilation, for 

 in all stages of growth the condition paramount 

 to success with dahlias is a free circulation of air. 



Never use this process for propagating seed- 

 lings or very new varieties, no matter how 

 valuable. Propagate them by root division only, 

 and guard the precious plants as you would your 

 family jewels. The vigour of a new variety takes 

 several years to establish. Some have no 

 vigour at all to work upon and should be dis- 

 carded no matter how beautiful. These are 

 usually the result of inbreeding^, though crossed 

 with some other varieties will sometimes make 

 good parents. 



A seedling which shows good root system in 

 the beginning, after being increased by division 

 for three or four years, may be propagated 

 sparingly through green cuttings. 



It might be better, perhaps, to begin propa- 

 gating by "root cuttings" before green cuttings 

 are made. This process varies from the others 

 in that after a shoot grows a few inches high, it is 



