,74 The Amateur^s Book of the Dahlia 



stitution and bear flowers of better colour and 

 habit. 



The latter part of August is early enough to 

 begin. Plants are then in their full strength 

 and vigour and can put their best efforts into 

 the development of the seed during September. 

 Do not grow too many seed pods on one 

 plant if you want flowers also. One or two is 

 plenty. 



It is of greatest importance that the seed pod 

 is protected from frost until it is quite ripe and 

 dry. It is full of sap which feeds the seeds until 

 they have achieved full development. Then 

 the stem closes its "water pipe" so that no more 

 need come from the reservoir down below, and 

 becomes dark in colour. This is a signal that 

 we may cut it and allow it to dry quickly in the 

 sun if it does not dry fast enough on the plant 

 itself — ^f or it must dry quickly if the seeds are not 

 to decay. If these green pods should become the 

 slightest bit frosted, the seed is killed. 



Should frost threaten, and the pods are well 

 filled out and of good size, they may be cut on a 

 long stem and placed in a glass of water in the 

 house. Keep them in a sunny window and 

 change the water from time to time. The seeds 

 which have developed fully will ripen and seem to 

 have as much germinating power as though they 



