Culture of the Dahlia. 317 



breaking the ball ; and the empty flower-pot should be turned 

 over the young plant, to prevent too much evaporation from the 

 leaves. As the plants grow, they should be carefully trained, 

 so as to admit the sun and air to the centre of the plant. This 

 is done by tying the stems to stakes fixed in the ground. Some- 

 times only a single stake is used, to which is tied the main 

 stem. In whatever way stakes may be used, they should be 

 driven a foot and a half or two feet into the ground before the 

 Dahlias are planted ; as if this be not done, there is danger of 

 wounding the tubers in driving the stakes into the ground. 

 The stems are tied rather loosely at first to the stakes with 

 bast matting, which is frequently taken oflfand replaced, as the 

 stems increase, till they have attained their full size. Some- 

 times, particularly with dwarf Dahlias, the stems are pegged 

 down to the beds, and this plan, when the soil is dry, produces 

 a brilliant effect. Where the object is to produce fine flowers, 

 either for exhibition or seeds, part of the buds, and the tips of 

 the shoots are occasionally removed. Where numerous small 

 but early flowers are wanted, the soil should be sandy or 

 gravelly, mixed with a very little loam. Many cultivators 

 shade their flowers, as both sun and rain will injure the deli- 

 cacy of the colors. 



The plants will generally continue to produce flowers till 

 their leaves and stems become blackened by frost ; and as soon 

 as this is the case, they should be cut down nearly to the sur- 

 face of the ground ; and the first dry weather that occurs, the 

 tubers should be taken up in the morning and left exposed to 

 the sun during the day. In the evening, they must be taken 

 to a dry airy place, where they will be safe from frost, and 

 kept there till they are dry enough to have all the soil removed 

 from them, which may be done with a soft brush. They must 

 be then buried in sand, saw-dust, or some similar material, and 

 deposited in a dry cellar, or garret, or some other place where 

 they can be kept dry ; the great objects to be considered being 

 dryness, security from frost, and a moderately cool tempera- 

 ture, which should never rise above forty-five degrees, nor sink 

 below thirty-six degrees. Labels with the name of each Dah- 

 lia should be affixed to each fascicle of tubers when it is re- 



