120 The Amateur's Book of the Dahlia 



of ground cork myself. None was to be had in 

 places where cork was usually sold — ^all the 

 dahlia men had been there before me — so I 

 went to the wholesale markets and bought the 

 kegs containing ground cork in which Malaga 

 grapes had been packed. These I brought home 

 in triumph and packed my dahlia roots care- 

 fully in them. Nejct spring there was not a liv- 

 ing root among the lot. So much for ground 

 cork, so far as I am concerned ! 



After so many trials and failures I began to 

 think for myself. For many years since then 

 I have packed my roots in sand. Losses have 

 seldom been more than one per cent., and I 

 have nearly always discovered a good reason for 

 the loss. 



Follow these directions, and if your storage 

 room is cool and dry, and your roots are sound 

 when put away, you will never regret the course : 



Examine every clump for decayed spots and 

 for moisture in the stem. Cut oflf all broken 

 tubers and those whose necks have been strained. 

 Cut away spots and trim off the fibrous roots. 

 If there is any moisture, set the clump to one 

 side until dry, for though sand itself will dry 

 quickly, it will keep moisture from evaporating 

 from the roots, or from the soil which is packed 

 about them. The stalks should not be more 



