CLIBRANS' LIST OF DAHLIAS FOR I 903. 
r 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
PAGE 
Bedding Dahlias 
Book on „ 
21) 
12 
14 
36 
„ Cactus Dahlias. . 
Cactus „ 
16 
6 
36 
Requisites for Dahlia 
Growers 
Collections of Dahlias . . 2 
37 
Fancy Dahlias 
u 
Show Dahlias 
7 
Pseonv-flowcred 
Dahlias 34 
SO 
An Alphabetical Index of every 
variety contained In this List 
will be found on 
pages 40 to 44, 
BRIEF HINTS ON THE 
CULTURE OF DAHLIAS. 
TREATMENT OF PLANTS ON RECEIPT. Dahlias are 
usually sent out as young green plants in 3-inch pots. If, 
upon receipt, the plants are found to have suffered during transit 
from drought or similar causes, they should be watered and 
kept close until recovered. The plants should then be re-potted 
into 5-inch or 6-inch pots and placed in a cold frame protected 
by lights. Allow a little ventilation at first, and increase 
gradually each day until the lights are removed altogether 
during the day, to be replaced only at night to protect from 
frost or cutting winds, the aim being to make the plants as strong 
and sturdy as possible. Towards the end of May or early in 
June (according to the season and district) they may be planted 
out where they are intended to bloom. 
SOIL AND PLANTING. — The best soil for Dahlias is 
undoubtedly a good, deep, fairly heavy loam. Where this docs 
not naturally exist, the soil should be deeply trenched during 
the winter ; if light and of poor quality, good, well-rotted 
manure should be freely added. When planting is done, if 
the weather is cold, the plants should be protected from the 
cutting winds by placing a few beech twigs or small branches 
of spruce upright in the soil at a little distance from the plant, 
a stake should also be placed to each plant, and the plant made 
secure by tying with raffia or some other soft material. 
CULTURE for EXHIBITION or GARDEN DECORATION. — 
If it is intended to grow flowers for exhibition, the shoots should 
be thinned out at an early stage. Those remaining should be 
attached to separate stakes in order that the growth does not 
become too crowded, and so obstruct light and air. A mulching 
with well-rotted manure will be of great advantage to the 
plants ; also if the weather is at all dry liberal supplies of water 
or liquid manure should be given at intervals. All side or 
weakly buds should be removed, and only the strongest allowed 
to develop. The preceding remarks apply also to Dahlias 
grown for garden decoration, except that the necessity for 
disbudding does not arise, neither do the growths require thinning 
to the same extent ; in fact, the Single and Pompon sections 
are better and more effective if all the growths are allowed to 
remain. 
