PLANTING DAHLIAS. 



95 



I the few meritorious varieties (in comparison with the number 

 raised) can always be procured. Tlie seeds should be sown in a 

 warm house in March, in boxes or pots according to convenience, 

 potted singly as ^oon as they are large enough, and planted out when 

 the weather is favourable in June. They are extremely floriferous, 

 and from a good strain a gem maybe occasionally secured. 



Management of Young Plants.— With the placing in the 

 3-inch pots of the rooted cuttings the work of the grower is not 

 finished, as it is now his object to keep the plants moving steadily 

 forward until the period for planting comes along. It may be 

 necessary to transfer the plants into larger pots, and if so a 

 similar compost to that already recommended should be used. In 

 any case, if they are in a greenhouse, get them into a frame as 

 soon as possible, particularly if one with a little bottom heat is 

 at command, because here it is an easy matter to keep the plants 

 in progress, and ensure them retaining their hardness and stoutness 

 by constantly admitting fresh air. To raise fine cuttings and then 

 to spoil them by coddling, as there is no doubt is often done, is 

 worse than a pity— it is folly— and must be guarded against by all 

 possible means. 



Planting Out. — The soil is best prepared some time in 

 advance of planting, to allow the food that has been put into 

 it to become amalgamated and to permit the ground to settle 

 down. The best natural manure at command should be incor- 

 porated with the ground, working it where it is possible to do so 

 into the second spit, and having an upper layer of pure loam, so 

 as to prevent the roots coming in actual contact with the manure. 

 To economise manure, the land should be prepared in stations 

 4 feet apart all ways, in order to allow each plant to have the fullest 

 benefit of light and air. 



The first thing to do is to insert the stake, and it must 

 be one that is not only of good height but very strong, as 

 from it all ties will be taken for the support of the branches. 

 When the plants are approaching to full growth, it will be 

 necessary to place about four other stakes in position, but this 

 ji does not warrant the cultivator in having a weak central one. 

 ' Then, when the proper time arrives, the plants must be put out, 

 placing them comparatively close to the stake, and attaching a 

 loose tie at once in case of a quickly rising heavy wind. Make 

 I the soil firm about the roots, but clo not go so far as to stamp 

 ^ upon it, as people have been seen to do before now. 



The object of placing the food in the second spit is to 

 prevent the roots getting into it too soon, as they certainly will do 

 I if it is on the surface. Gnossness of growth at all stages is 

 * undesirable, but particularly when the plants are very young, as 

 ij -it is difficult, if not impossible, to persuade them to grow out 

 ' of it, and the blooms come Avith serious defects which render 

 them quite unfit for exhibition purposes, and not of material 

 ralue for the adornment of the garden. By the time the plants are 



