SOIL AND LOCATION. 
The Dahlia loves an cpen sunny situation and for convenience and ease of cultiva- 
tion, a rich, mellow soil is preferable. The Dahlia however, possesses a happy, easy- 
going disposition and readily adapts itself to almost any soil or situation, except dense 
shade, and wet, sour soil. So with these exceptions, it may be said that the soil at hand 
will do, if reasonable judgment be used in the preparation and cultivation which is to fol- 
low. They thrive in practically all locations where other flowers grow, from an altitude 
of a few feet above sea level to an altitude of 1 0,000 feet in warm chmates, and seem 
to be at home in all soils, from heavy clay to almost clean sand. 
The grower should remember that cultivation is first in importance, and location 
second; for without proper and thorough cultivation, failure is inevitable. 
The writer recalls the complaint of a customer, of an order that was unsatisfactory. 
It developed that the customer had dug holes for the tubers in a heavy sod with the end 
of a parasol, and could not understand why they did so poorly. 
Having selected the location for planting, it should be thoroughly prepared by dig- 
ging — the deeper the better, and if this work can be done in the fall, it will be in better 
condition for spring planting. 
FERTILIZERS. 
If the soil is poor, a little well rotted manure should be worked in at the time of dig- 
ging or plowing. 
On the question of fertilizer, good judgment must be exercised, or the ends most 
desired may be defeated. Many Dahlias are ruined by over-fertilizing. Heavy fertiliz- 
ing produces a rapid, sappy growth of foHage and gives the plant no time to grow flowerSj 
or if they are produced at all, they are small and inferior blooms, both in form and color. 
The dense, heavy growth of foliage becomes a harbor and breeding place for insect pests 
that feed upon the young, sappy growth and buds. As stated above, judgment must be 
used, and fertilizer also, if the soil is poor, or if Dahlias have been grown for several 
years in the same location. 
As to kind of fertilizer and the amount to be used, judgment must govern again. 
If the soil is capable of producing a rank growth of weeds, little, if any, fertihzer will be 
needed. For a heavy or medium soil, use a rather coarse manure from the horse stable, 
in quantity from one to two good forks full to nine square feet. For a very sandy soil, 
horse manure in which an equal portion of clay has been worked, makes a good dressing 
using a little more than the quantity suggested above. Sandy soils are hard to keep en- 
riched unless underlaid with clay, as the rains leach the strength badly. Light, loamy soils 
are best treated with wood ashes or a light dressing of coarse bone meal (not bone dust). 
If bone be used, one good handful is sufficient to nine square feet; ashes, about one quart 
to nine square feet. 
All the foregoing fertilizers should be spread over the surface of the soil and worked 
in at the time of digging or planting. Never use fresh manure. 
Soils that are low and inclined to be wet can be helped greatly by a liberal dressing 
of air slaked lime. On such soils, the hills or rows where the tubers are to be placed should 
be raised several inches above the ground level. Dahlias do not thrive where their roots 
are constantly in wet soil. 
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