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BECKERT SEED AND BULB COMPANY 



Decorative Dah'ia. 



Dahlias 



The present great popularity of Dahlias is 

 well deserved. They have a beauty and 

 variety of form and color unequaled by any 

 other dower and are adaptable to practically 

 all garden schemes from a single plant in a 

 small garden to veritable hedges in the more 

 expansive gardens. Even beginners have 

 wonderful results, while the more experi- 

 enced gardeners are amply repaid by the 

 additional size and beauty of blooms result- 

 ing from their expert care and attention. 

 Dahlias are easy to grow in almost any soil, 

 the two main lequirements being plenty of 

 sunlight and water. 



PREPARING THE GROUND. Dahlias 

 delight in a light, friable, loamy soil, en- 

 riched with well-rotted stable manure. 

 Spade the ground full depth of the top soil 

 and be sure that manure is thoroughly 

 mixed with soil. 



PLANTING. Tubers may be started in- 

 doors in boxes in April for later transplant- 

 ing or planted outdoors from about the 

 middle of May to the end of June. Lay tne 

 tubers flat, about 6 inches deep and 2 to 3 

 feet apart in the row. 



GROWING. Do not permit more than two 

 or three shoots to grow from a root, and 

 when shoots are 2 feet high, pinch out the 

 centers to promote branching growth. 



POR EXHIBITION. Permit only a single 

 stem to grow from a root and cut off about 

 half the lateral branches. Treated in this 

 manner the plant will not only give larger 

 flowers but they will all have full centers. 



CURING AND STORING. When the foli- 

 age has been killed by Fall frosts, dig the 

 roots, shake off as much soil as possible, 

 and cut off all but 2 to 3 inches of the stems. 

 Store the roots in a cool, dry place, stems 

 down. It is not necessary to cover them 

 with soil or ashes. We offer only standard 

 divisions of dormant tubers. 



FROM SEED. Dahlias are as easy to raise 

 from seed as cabbage or tomatoes, and many 

 interesting and profitable varieties may be 

 produced. We offer seed of the choicest 

 varieties on page 39. 



10 Prize Winning Dahlias 



Look over the following list of what we 

 consider ten of the finest Dahlias in ex- 

 istence. From Amun Ra to U. S. A. they 

 represent the utmost in Dahlia perfection, 

 not only in size of bloom but in coloring, 

 robust growth, and strength of stem. All 

 tubers have been carefully cut from field- 

 grown clumps that have not been forced. 



Amun Ra (The Sun God). (Decorative). 

 Immense blooms, exquisitely formed. 

 Flowers are borne well above the deep 

 green foliage on long, sturdy stems. A 

 delightful blending from copper-orange on 

 the outer petals to rich, reddish bronze 

 at the center. $1.50 each. 



Felix (Hybrid Cactus). 1927 novelty and 

 one of the finest. Flowers are large and 

 borne on good strong stems. Color violet 

 overlaid Tyrian rose with velvety sheen. 

 $1.00 each. 



Gladys Sherwood (Hybrid Cactus). We 

 consider this the finest, white Dahlia. 

 Flowers are of largest size, pure white, 

 borne on long stems and keep for a long 

 time in water. $1.25 each. 



Mrs. Nat. Slocombe (Decorative). One of 

 the finest soft yellows we have seen. 

 Flowers are of perfect form and borne on 

 long stems. Holds up well in water. $1.00 



each. 



Jersey Beauty (Decorative). The finest pink 

 Decorative Dahlia ever introduced. Color 

 is a rich clear glowing pink. Flowers are 

 of large size and held erect on long, strong 

 stems. $3.00 each. 



Judge Marean (Decorative). Extra large 

 but perfect in shape. Plants are very 

 sturdy and bear their flowers on long 

 stems. Color is a superb blending of red, 

 orange and gold. $1.25 each. 



Mephistopheles (Decorative). One of the 

 largest and strongest growing Dahlias in 

 existence. Color is a rich glowing scar- 

 let. $1.00 each. 



Mrs. I. De Ver Warner (Decorative). Clear 

 orchid or mauve-pink, and one of the most 

 satisfactory of the large Decorative Dah- 

 lias to grow either for exhibition or for 

 cut flowers. $1.00 each. 



Paul Michael (Decorative). A fine variety 

 for exhibition; flowers very large with 

 curled petals. Color gold shading to 

 orange-buff. $1.00 each. 



U. S. A. (Decorative). Magnificent blooms 

 borne on long stems above the foliage. 

 The large flowers are a striking blending 

 of orange and gold. $1.50 each. 



SPECIAL COLLECTION OFFER 



10 Prize Winning- Dahlias for $10.00. 



This collection consists of one strong 

 tuber of each of the above Prize Winning 

 Dahlias. Each tuber under name. $10.00. 

 postpaid. 



DAHLIA STAKES 



It is advisable to place Dahlia stakes at 

 the same time as planting the tubers. This 

 eliminates any chance of injuring the 

 tubers, as is often the case when stakes 

 are put in after the plants are partly 

 grown. See page 77. 



