April, 1914 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
129 
the flowers can be cut. The New Century 
Singles are splendid for their early display 
of blooms, and are among the best for 
dining-room decorations, the red and yel- 
low varieties blending beautifully with .\u- 
tumn foliage, d'he Collorette Dahlias of 
recent introduction will be more popular 
as they become better known, while the 
Double Show or fancy type is grown less 
in gardens than formerly. The reason for 
this is found in the superior merits of the 
Cactus and Decorative varieties as cut 
flowers. Double Pompons are grown as a novelty and a 
few of them are attractive in the old-fashioned border. Try 
a few Twentieth Century Singles, red or yellow, against 
an evergreen background — the effect is charming. 
PROPAG.M'IOX 
There are four distinct methods of increasing Dahlias, as 
follows: By separating the tubers, and by cuttings that start 
from the tubers in early Spring. Also from cuttings taken 
from the axils of the leaves in August, and from seeds. 
The first method of propagation, separating the tubers, is 
the one generally followed by amateur and is also consid- 
ered the easiest and best way by many experts. 
"The illustration shows the method in practice, and often 
ten to a dozen plants may be secured from one root or old 
plant in this way. It is essential to see that each tuber 
has a sprout of growth started at the time of separation. 
These are found very close to the parent stem, as without 
a growth even the largest tuber is no good. The smallest 
tubers can be used, and in nearly every case they make the 
best plants, as the large coarse tubers run to growth at the 
expense of the flowers. The same thing happens when the 
old root stock is planted without being divided. 
To propagate by cuttings, the plants require to be brought 
into the greenhouse, or placed in a warm frame in early 
April, the roots covered with 
soil and kept fairly moist. 
Young growths will soon ap- 
pear, when they have made 
from three to four leaves 
they can be taken off and in- 
serted in sand, or singly in 
small pots. Keep the m 
shaded, and spray overhead 
twice daily until rooted, 
when they can be brought in- 
to the light and given plenty 
of air after a few days, to 
make them sturdy. 
In reference to F'all cut- 
tings, take off the side 
growths that are not show- 
ing any flower bud, as illus- 
trated. removing the leaf of 
the parent stem. "The cut- 
ting should have a heel or 
part of the old leaf stem at- 
tached. which will callous 
over and form roots in less 
time than a cutting made 
from a joint. They should 
be inserted singly in small 
pots of soil, a mixture of 
screened loam, leaf mold 
and sand, and placed in a 
cold frame. Keep watered 
and shaded till rooted. The 
cuttings should be kept grow- 
ing till the end of October, 
when ihey show signs ot ripet\ing by the 
foliage turning color, reduce the watering 
and allow the plant tt) rest for the Winter. 
1 hey can be kept through the Winter in a 
cellar tree from Irost. Do not turn them 
out of the pots, as the soil will serve to 
keep the tubers frotn drying out. 
I his system ot Tall propagating is a 
capital one where perhaps you have a new 
or extra good variety you wish to increase 
as much as p<)ssible tor the following year, 
as it allows ot the other two methods be- 
ing used in the Spring, i. e., the tuber and cutting methoils. 
Should you send an order tor a dozen new Dahlia plan,s 
and receive a very small box with a dozen tubers about the 
si/e of hazelnuts, do not be disappointed. I'hey will make 
splendid plants, and you will be made familiar with the re- 
sults of Fall cutting propagation. I do not know of a better 
method of shipping plants, or rather tubers, than this. It 
is practiced a great ileal in Turope, and ilie cost of ship- 
ping and risk of injury during transit is reduced to the 
minimum. 
SKKl) SOWlN'ti 
'The very uncertainty of what you are likely to get 
by raising Dahlias from seed makes it interesting. If 
you sow a packet of fifty seeds the chances are that there 
will be no two alike. Again, you may get a good one, or 
at least one or two tiiat are worth gi‘{)wing on. I'lie writer 
has raised several good ones from packets of seed pur- 
chased, where probably no attempt at selection was made. 
'I'he precaution should be taken to label tlie best types 
when in flower, and to only propagate tiieir cuttings or 
tubers, and then the types remain fixed. 
You will find every shade of color represented except the 
blues, and on some plants several colors. It is certainly 
well worth trying if you have the ground to spare for a 
row in the garden. There is 
a keen relisfi in anticipation 
and watching the flower 
open, and at least the chance 
of one member of the fam- 
ily securing something that 
appeals to her or liis fancy. 
1 he seed sfiouhl be sown 
about the first week in ,\pril 
in either the greenhouse or 
hotbed, and before the young 
plants become crowileil [)ot 
oH singly into small pots and 
grow cool. If you have more 
than you need, j)ot the small 
plants in j)reference to tlie 
larger ones, as the latter are 
generally coarse growing 
ami poor types. 
y L.\N TING 
There is nothing gained 
by planting Dahlias too 
early, as the flowers that 
open in midsummer from 
early planting are as a rule 
imperfect. 
The last week in May and 
early June is soon enough, or 
even later will do if the 
plants are not allowed to be- 
come drawn. Dahlias do not 
require rich soil. A little 
complete fertilizer or a hand- 
ful of pulverized sheep ma- 
Removing the Dahlia cutting 
The “Vater Rhein" Dahlia illustrates the height attained by this giant 
cactus type 
