glory. Mr. Peacock is perhaps the largest of all the growers, and has 
taken so many prizes that he is not allowed to exhibit in competition 
for a prize. It was on Sunday and there were hundreds of people, but 
I was fortunate to meet him that afternoon, and for half an hour he 
showed me the proper method of disbudding, which I will repeat to 
you. 
From each tuber planted, several stalks appear above ground. 
When these are firmly established, perhaps five inches above ground, 
Mr. Peacock cuts off every stalk but one, throwing all the strength 
into one stalk. If you have very few plants, however, I would advise 
leaving two stalks, in case of accident, but not more. These stalks 
must be carefully tied to stakes, in several places, as they are growing, 
to avoid breaking. Cover each bleeding stalk with a fine powdering of 
earth, to hasten coagulation and sa^'e the sap. This is important. It 
is also important to place the stakes when you are planting the tuber, 
as many a tuber has been ruined by having a stake driven through 
it. The tubers grow in a long, straggling way, and it is hard to know 
just where they are underground. When they are beginning to bud, 
and you can really see an evidence of the terminal bud, pinch (not cut) 
out the shoots in each section, three rows down, leaving the terminal 
bud to develop on a nice long stem. This method of disbudding causes 
the plant to bush out at the bottom, and, as each spray grows, the 
same method of disbudding should be carried out. When I want very 
large flowers, I pinch down four sections, and last year got Minnie 
Burgles nine inches across, with stems a yard long. In pinching off 
buds and sprays in sections, I sprinkle the oozing ends with powdered 
earth and save all the sap possible. 
My real inspiration in Dahlia growing has been Dr. Theodore W. 
Moses, who lent me many helpful pamphlets on the Dahlia, and told 
me about a small periodical that keeps Dahlia lovers very much 
up-to-date — "The Bulletin of the American Dahlia Society." 
Practical Suggestions for Growing Dahlias 
Mrs. Paul L. Cort, Trenton Garden Club 
We cannot all grow Dahlias from cuttings, first because we have 
not greenhouses to start them in, second because they are expensive 
to buy, and third because we that have tubers, and have enjoyed their 
flowers before, are attached to them and want to grow them the next 
year. 
If we have last year's tubers, don't think of planting the whole 
thing, but separate each tuber very carefully. 
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