IN A NUT SHELL 
I Z=Z=3 
A FEW ITEMS ^/INTEREST 
Th« native homo of the Dahlia is Central America and Southern Mexico. Its earliest known his- 
tory dates back to 1©57, and at this date was called AcoctU by the Aztec Indians. Later its name was 
cbanged 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 in 1814 and are credited to M. 
Donkelaar. The first double forma were of the types now known as Show and Fancy. The POmpon 
form appeared about 1858 to I860. Next came the DecoraUve form, but its origin is not cl«arly de- 
flnna ' 3 forty or fifty years. The first Cactus Dahlia originated in 1873, 
intil 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 Dah- 
lias today that have descended from the original Juarezi. The Peony Flowered type is of quite recent 
oiigin, dating back but a few yearrf. 
How to Grow and Care for 
Daklias 
If possible, plant in an open, sunny situation. Prepare the soil thoroughly by deep 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 dwari 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 themjn position. 
8x3 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— about sunset— and the less foliage taken 
off with the flowers the better for both plant and flovter. If green is desired, use some other green of 
better keeping qualities. 
After frost has killed the tops, dig the tubers eaiefuUy, remove the soil from the roots, and store 
away in a box or barrel secure from frost. As a precaution it would be well to cover the tubers so 
stored with saud, leaves, or moss. 
All clumps should be divided into several pieces before being reset the following spring.— (Kxtract, 
fiom Wilmors's Dahlia Manual. 
^Extracts from Wilinore's Dahlia rHonaat. 
