THE FLORAL JVORLD 



making- the earth solid. Have soil an 

 inch from top of pot, so water won't 

 run off when watered and will pene- 

 trate through the soil to the roots. 

 This, too, is important, good drainage, 

 to insure against over-watering. 

 After potting plants, water well to 

 settle soil in all parts of the pot, then 

 put in a shady place to establish itself 

 in the new soil. Leave them in a cool 

 place for several weeks, to get as 

 much fresh air as possible, and light 

 Is very essential to fine foliage. Do 

 not take them indoors right away 

 after potting, and avoid fire heat as 

 long as you can, as they will do well 

 without it until long in November; 

 then have them in an adjoining room 

 to where stove is located. They will 

 be far superior to plants kept by fire 

 and will bloom throughout the entire 

 winter. Too warm rooms and too lit- 

 tle fresh air greatly debilitate tender 

 plants. Last winter I kept over fifty 

 plants and never lost but two by 

 freezing. Those were too close to 

 the window pane and I forgot to put 

 newspaper between them. 

 Ohio. Mrs. Mattie Woodson. 



THE FALL BEAUTY— THE DAHLIA. 



There is no question but what the 

 dahlia is the most beautiful fall flower 

 we have. There are so many colors 

 and so many shades of the same color 

 that with all the different mixtures it 

 is difficult to find another flower to 

 equal it. Did you ever raise them 

 from seed? If not, don't fail to try it 

 next season. It is easy, and you may 

 get some very choice colors. It is in- 

 teresting to watch their growth and 

 wonder what the colors will be. Sow 

 seeds about April 1, in the house, lu 

 good soil; water freely. As soon as 

 four leaves are formed transplant inlo 

 six-mch pots. Do not set out in the 

 ground until the weather becomes set- 

 tled. Then, as they grow, pinch off 



the lower branches from the main 

 stock, so there will be eight or more 

 inches space from the lowest branches 

 to the ground. In doing this you will 

 get fine flowers and long stems. I 

 sowed seeds April 21, and at this writ- 

 ing (July 21) have plants in bud. So 

 you see, you can get dahlias from seed 

 as soon as you can from bulbs, and no 

 more trouble. 

 Massachusetts. E. O. B. 



I have never seen in The Floral 

 World my way of taking care of dahlia 

 bulbs. In October I take my boxes^ 

 cover the bottom four or five inches 

 deep with dry garden earth, then I 

 place my dahlia roots close together 

 and cover with dry earth, ready to 

 start in the spring. I put them in the* 

 cellar, and in March toring them up 

 and put in the windows, where they 

 will start in a few days, as soon as 

 warm enough I set them out in the 

 garden, and I always have them blos- 

 som by the fifth of June, and they 

 blossom all summer. I have never lost 

 one huYb yet. 



Mich. Mrs. S. J. Patterson. 



AS TO FLORAL SPECIALTIES. 



What I mean by cultivating floral 

 specialties is making a wise selectioiiL 

 of foliage plants and bringing them to 

 a state of perfection. Without the least 

 intention of discouraging the amateur 

 florist from growing this, that and the 

 other, in The Floral World I would 

 emphasize specimen plants — stand out 

 with such distinct individuality, and 

 are suitable to adorn the humblest cot 

 or the queen's palace. 



Exercise judgment in watering, as 

 growing plants extract moisture from 

 the soil in proportion to the rapidity 

 of growth. Consequently they require 

 very little early in the season. Give 

 no fertilizer to plants begun in Janu- 

 ary, until about March or April. 



