STORING AND PROTECTING DAHLIAS. 



23 



staked. If blooms of the cactus type are wanted for exhibiting, the growths and buds 

 must be well thinned, the blooms also sheltered from wet, and any leaves that touch 

 the flowers removed to prevent bruising. Pompons, single, and single cactus dahlias, 

 only require three stakes placed 24 inches from the centre stem, and some soft material 

 tied round them. The plants will fill this space and become a mass of flowers. 



Lifting and Stoking. 



About the middle of October the plants will probably be blackened by frost ; as soon 

 as they are hopelessly spoiled, cut 

 the tops off to within six inches of 

 the ground and raise the roots with 

 a digging fork, tying the label on 

 with wire or tarred twine. Eemove 

 all loose soil, and leave the roots 

 on the ground, stem downwards, 

 until the afternoon. If a green- 

 house is available carry the roots 

 in and place them on a stage for a 

 few days to dry. They will winter 

 well if placed in shallow boxes 

 and partly covered with cocoa 

 fibre, ashes, or very dry soil. 

 Place in a dry position, free from 

 frost. Look them over occasionally 

 during the winter and cut away 

 any decaying stems or tubers, 

 dressing the wound with lime or 

 dry wood ashes. If the grower 

 propagate his own plants, it is 

 advisable to keep three or four plants of a sort in small pots all the summer : these can 

 be laid on their sides in a dry place during the winter, and are safe to keep, whilst 

 the open ground roots are uncertain. 



Exhibiting Dahlias. 

 Double dahlias are exhibited on perforated boards containing tubes of water. 



