entertained but little thought however, at 
that lime, that he would ever be known 
study with the Dahlia as a subject. He 
^ ANY years ago, or to speak 
I more exact, in the year 1 88 1 , 
^ the author began his life 
"PREFACE 
THE AUTHOR 
among the commercial growers of the world, and still less thought 
that he would ever become the author of a modest little book. ^As 
a boy, he was captivated by the wiles of the Dahlia while looking at 
some fine blooms in a neighboring yard — a simple act, yet a life 
work grew out of it. ^For a number of years his work with the 
Dahlia was confined to growing for pleasure only. His chief de- 
light, then as now, was in originating new varieties from seed. 
Gradually this work led to commercial growing. CJIn the following 
pages the aim will be to present such information as is commonly 
needed in successful Dahlia culture. This work is in no sense an 
advertising medium, neither will it attempt to cover all the field in 
minute detail. Conditions are almost as varied as localities, and any 
attempt to furnish rules and instructions that will apply under all 
these various conditions is beyond human reach. It will therefore 
be obvious to the reader that specific information is to be operative 
only so far as climatic and other conditions may render them of 
practical value. 
W. W. WILMORE. 
3 
