76 



may strip the plant of half its branches. Do not tie 

 the branches to the stakes in a bunch, but train them 

 out separately, so that the leaves may be well exposed 

 to the light and air. This is essential for the pro- 

 duction of fine blooms. {Turner s Practical Obser- 

 vations on the Dahlia, 2.) 



Sometimes the dahlia is trained in an espalier form, 

 which can only be done by arranging the shoots 

 whilst they are very young. They are trained ac- 

 cording to the fan system, the main stems being led 

 out diagonally, and the centre filled by the branches 

 trained horizontally. There should be horizontal 

 bars to form the trellis, as well as upright stakes. 



The frequent use of the hoe, not only to destroy 

 weeds, but to loosen the soil's surface, is very bene- 

 ficial. 



Pruning requires to be done very sparingly, and, 

 indeed, is seldom required, unless it is desired to have 

 only a few very fine and perfect flowers. It should 

 be done as soon as the shoots show themselves ; and 

 the lower ones alone should be removed. It is not a 

 good practice to take away the leader. (Gard. 

 Chron. 1843, 361.) 



Do not allow the plant to become full of small 

 branches, and then removed at once ; all superfluous 

 shoots should be cut away as the plant progresses. 

 It is also injudicious to subject each variety to the same 

 amount of thinning ; for, by such treatment, as much 



