RALPH BENJAMIN, CALVERTON, LONG ISLAND 
den soil, but do not let stable or barnyard 
manure come in contact with the bulb as 
this will cause it to decay. Use commercial 
fertilizer thoroughly mixed with the soil. 
A few bulbs planted every lo days from 
April iSth to July ist, in this latitude will 
give flowers until frost. Give thorough cul- 
tivation and in cutting leave most of the 
leaves on the plant so as to mature the bulb 
for another year. 
Classification of Dahlias 
Dahlias are divided into a number of 
classes. 
The Cactus have long, narrow petals, 
sometimes twisted and fluted, and some- 
times resemble a chrysanthemum. 
The Hybrid have coarse, wide petals. 
The Peony type is of recent introduction 
but has become very popular. They are 
usually a very large flower with few rows 
of petals and show an open center. Some- 
times the inner petals are twisted and curled 
over the center which gives the flower a 
resemblance to a semi-double peony from 
which it takes its name. 
The Decorative dahlias have rounded or 
