IN A NUT SHELL 
^ ^ A FEW ITEMS OF INTEREST ^ ^ 
The native home of the Dahlia is Central America and SoiiUiern Mexico. 
Its earliest known historj' dates back to 1657, and at this date was called 
Acocti hy the Aztec Indians. Later its name was changed to Georgina, after 
Prof. Georgi of St. Petersburg, which name is still used in some of the German 
catalogs. • Again the name was changed to Dahlia, after Dr. Dahl, a Swedish 
botanist. The Dahlia in its native state is single. The first double forms 
appeared^ 1814 and are credited to M. Donkelaar. The first double forms 
were of the types now known as Show and Fancy. The Pompon form appeared 
about 1858 to 1860. Next came the Decorative form, but its origin is not 
clearly defined, but probably dates back some forty years. The first Cactus 
Dahlia originated in 1872, but was not placed on the market until 1880. It was 
named Juarezi after President Juarez of Mexico. This is the popular type of 
the present day and there are some 2,000 named varieties of Cactus Dahlias 
today that have descended from the original Juarezi. The Peony Flowered 
type is of quite recent origin, dating back but a few years. 
How to Grow and Care for Daklias 
If possible, plant in an open, sunny situation. Prepare the soil thoroughly 
by deej) digging. Be moderate in the use of both manure and water. Never 
plant when the soil is wet. Lay the tuber flat on its side and cover it 4 inches 
deep, pressing the soil firmly on the tuber. Keep the soil loose and mellow 
by frequent hoeing, drawing the soil to a slight hillock around the plant. 
Tall growing varieties may be kept fairly dwarf by pinching out the tip 
when the first shoot is 6 inches high. All varieties growing above 4 feet should 
be tied to stout stakes to hold them in position. 
3x3 feet is about the proper distance to plant apart. 
Keep all dead flowers trimmed off. 
Dahlia blooms keep much better if cut in the evening — aboiit sunset — and 
the less foliage taken off with the flowers the better for both plant and flower. 
If green is desired, use some other green of better keeping qualities. 
After frost has killed the tops, dig the tubers carefully, remove the soil 
from the roots, and store away in a box or barrel secure from frost. As a pre- 
caution it would be well to cover the tubers so stored with sand, leaves, or moss. 
All clumps should be divided into several pieces before being reset the 
following spring. — (Extracts from Wilmore's Dahlia Manual. 
