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BECKERT SEED AND BULB COMPANY 



Dahlias 



The present great popularity of Dahlias is 

 well deserved. They have a beauty and 

 variety of form and color unequaled by any 

 other flower 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 experienced 

 gardeners are amply repaid by the additional 

 size and beauty of blooms resulting from 

 their expert care and attention. Dahlias are 

 easy to grow in almost any soil, the two 

 main requirements being plenty of sunlight 

 and water. 



PREPARING THE GROUND. Dahlias 

 delight in a light, friable, loamy soil, enriched 

 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 indoors 

 in boxes in April for later transplanting or 

 planted outdoors from about the middle of May 

 to the end of June. Lay the tubers fiat, 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. 



FOR 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 

 foliage 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. 



Ten New and Rare Varieties 



Look over the following list of what we con- 

 sider ten of the finest Dahlias in existence. 

 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 care- 

 fully cut from field- grown clumps that have 

 not been forced. 



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

 mense 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. ^2 each. 



Bashful Giant. Decorative. Extremely large, 

 with perfectly formed flowers of apricot, 

 delicately shaded with gold. One of the finest 

 Dahlias of this color. I2.50 each. 



Esther R. Holmes. Cactus. A superb variety 

 for exhibition. Flowers are of finest form and 

 clear lavender- pink. $2 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. $5 each. 



Dahlia, Amun Ra 



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. 

 $2 each. 



Kitty Dunlap. Decorative. Mammoth blooms 

 of clear American Beauty pink. A fine va- 

 riety for exhibition purposes. $2 each. 



Mrs. I. De Ver Warner. Decorative. Clear 

 orchid or mauve- pink, and one of the most 

 satisfactory of the large Decorative Dahlias 

 to grow either for exhibition or for cut-flowers. 

 $2 each. 



Mrs. John Scheepers. Decorative. Large, 

 perfectly formed flowers, opening clear canary- 

 yellow. The outer petals become suffused 

 with an exquisite shade of pink as the flower 

 ages. $2.50 each. 



The Emperor. Decorative. Fine, extra- large 

 deep maroon flowers. Plants are strong and 

 vigorous and bloom through an extended 

 period. ^2.50 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. $2 each. 



SPECIAL OFFER 

 Four Supreme Dahlias, $7,50 



Four of the finest Dahlias of recent intro- 

 duction are included in this collection — va- 

 rieties without which no Dahlia- garden is 

 complete. They are MRS. JOHN SCHEEP- 

 ERS, THE EMPEROR, MRS. I. DE 

 VER WARNER, and JUDGE MAREAN, 

 all described and offered separately above. 

 We offer these four Dahlias as a collection at 

 a reduced price to enable all Dahlia- lovers to 

 secure them. Price I7.50, postpaid. 



