100 The Amateur's Book of the Dahlia 



Next day this is repeated in other parts of the 

 garden while the soil about the roots of the 

 dahlias watered the day before is being culti- 

 vated. 



This is Nature's way; and Mother Nature 

 knows what is good for her children. By morn- 

 ing the thirsty flowers have drunk their fill and 

 surplus moisture is evaporated enough not to 

 scald when the sun's hot rays touch them. One 

 soaking is usually enough, but if drought con- 

 tinues longer than usual, another such soaking 

 may be necessary a week or ten days later. In 

 our hot New Jersey climate there is no blessed 

 dew to refresh the tired flowers at night, and 

 he who is fortunate enough to possess one of the 

 many systems of "overhead watering" should 

 turn it on for five minutes or so just at dusk. 

 This "overhead" system replaces, of course, 

 the garden hose and sprinkler, but it is an un- 

 sightly thing and should only be used where 

 dahlias are grown for cut flowers only. 



The second great secret of success with dahlias 

 is — cultivate often. Watering is only an inci- 

 dent and should never be resorted to unless ab- 

 solutely necessary. 



Then summer comes at last. Sun and rain 

 have caused the tiny plants to grow apace and 

 almost over night become small trees. Leaf 



