CULTIVATION OF THE SHOW DAHLIA. 



29 



them back in the frame or house until they show they are at 

 work ; then give plenty of air to keep the plants sturdy and 

 strong, and to prevent their being drawn up, which is very un- 

 desirable at any time. By the end of May the lights can be 

 drawn off all day, and put on again at night, with air at the 

 back, until two or three days before planting out, when the lights 

 can be removed entirely. 



The first week in June is a good time to put the plants out 

 in the ground, or in the holes prepared for them, taking care that 

 the ground is not too wet, or it is likely to give the plants a check 

 and to cake round the roots. A good distance, where one has 

 plenty of room, is six feet from row to row, and five feet from 

 plant to plant in the rows. Of course, all are not so favoured as 

 to have so much room, but it pays in the long run, for the 

 plants grow stronger and more robust ; and besides, it is more 

 convenient to get amongst them, especially when the weather is 

 wet, for if they are planted thickly one gets wet round the knees 

 in gathering the flowers or otherwise looking after them. But 

 we cannot draw a hard-and-fast line in planting, but must plant 

 to some extent according to the space at our disposal. 



When the Dahlias are planted, plant some Lettuces between 

 them ; these will act as a decoy for slugs, which will eat the 

 Lettuces instead of the Dahlias. What are left will come in for 

 the table, as they are sure to be crisp and good, owing to the 

 goodness of the ground the Dahlias are planted in. It is also 

 advisable to put a little lime or soot round each plant, as preven- 

 tion is better than cure ; the ground vermin have fastidious 

 palates, and will in one night often spoil the most valuable 

 varieties by eating round the bark of the plant, thus weakening 

 it, and rendering the blooms too late for exhibiting. In 

 a few days they will commence to grow and will want their 

 stakes, which should be as strong and neat as possible, taking 

 care to give long stakes to the tall growers, and vice versa. 

 As the staking proceeds, have some raffia fibre ready to tie the 

 plants to the stakes as you go along ; also a basket filled with 

 small pots, with a little moss or hay inside, so that they can be 

 put upon the top of the stakes as a trap for earwigs, which will 

 soon commence to devour the plants unless kept down by constant 

 care. The pots should be taken off every morning or evening, 

 to see if there are any earwigs lurking inside the moss. Have a 



