112 The Amateur's Booh of ike Dahlia 



servatory or even on the veranda, after the 

 garden has gone to sleep, they should be grown 

 slowly and the blooming period held back as 

 long as possible. Turn the pot every week or so 

 in order to destroy any feeding roots which have 

 found their way downward through the drainage 

 hole. 



Late cuttings can be used for pot-grown plants, 

 but tubers from such cannot be depended upon 

 for winter keeping if the plants are forced to 

 bear many flowers. They do best if the centre 

 stalk is pinched back to two or three joints, 

 allowing a low-branching system, such as large 

 growers use in the fields. This makes a strong, 

 husky plant which can easily be handled when 

 the proper time comes to lift it indoors. 



Early in September the plant may be shifted 

 into a butter tub, previously tarred inside for 

 protection against the salted wood. This must 

 be done with great care not to disturb the roots, 

 and the plant must be vigorously watered di- 

 rectly after. 



Small stakes and green string, such as are used 

 on Easter plants, will be sufficient support, and 

 enough disbudding done, to perfect the flowers, 

 will make a very handsome house-plant. In 

 this way dahlias may be blooming for you until 

 Christmas time. 



