THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
129 
CULTURE OF THE DAHLIA FOR EXHIBITION. 
HE following concise rules, to be observed in the success- 
ful culture of the Dahlia for exhibition, are not furnished 
so much for any novelty which exists in the practice 
recommended, as to point out a few of the most essen- 
tial things to be done at the proper time. 
For economy in carriage, the plants are grown and sent out in 
small pots; therefore, on receiving them from the nursery, place them 
in a close frame for a day and a night to recover them from their 
confinement ; then repot them into four-inch pots, using rich soil ; 
the pots should be drained with coarse partly decayed leaf-mould, so 
that, in planting out, there will be nothing to abstract from the ball 
of earth. 
A good start is of great importance ; therefore, care should be 
taken that the plant is grown to a fair size without drawing during 
the time it is in the pot ; the stouter it is the better, without being 
tall : and it should not be pot bound at the time of planting out ; 
both the roots and the point of the plant should be in a thriving 
condition, and free from aphides. It may perhaps be unnecessary to 
state that the plants must be carefully hardened off before they are 
turned out. If the soil and plants are in a proper state, the first 
week in June will be a good time for the general planting, which, 
with ordinary care and attention, will produce good blooms in time 
for the earliest exhibition. A short period will suffice to have plauts 
of a good size, "but it should be borne in mind that hours lost in 
repotting them when in a young state, will make a difference of days 
in the time of blooming, and it is important that this should be 
clearly' understood, that no neglect in the matter may be permitted 
to take place. Examine the plants often to see if any require water ; 
by no means let them become dry so long as they are in pots. 
Secure them with proper and strong fastenings at the time of the 
planting ; water whenever they require it, and sprinkle the foliage 
slightly almost every evening with soft water. Tie out the branches, 
and, as the plant increases in size, secure the side-shoots firmly to 
extra stakes. Cut away all superfluous small shoots. Some varieties 
have scarcely any to remove, while others have a considerable number. 
Fearless is of the class which has but few shoots requiring the use of 
the knife ; but such kinds as Shylock require it freely. Indiscrimi- 
nate pruning must therefore be avoided. Study the habit of the 
plant, and consider if the flower will be improved by increased size; 
all varieties need some thinning and disbudding, which should be- 
effected at different periods. 
Small flowers require it as soon as the young shoots and buds 
can be removed, while large flowers, such as the Thames Bank Hero, 
Princess Louise, and many others, would be rendered coarse and 
valueless for the purposes of exhibition if a number of buds was 
not permitted to remain till the plant was coming into bloom. Size 
in this case would be gained at the expense of quality ; besides, 
there is the advantage of having three blooms where two would be 
May. 9 
