In April spread the bulbs out on the floor of the cellar, cover them 
with newspapers, sprinkle the papers with water, and keep them 
moist until the tubers sprout. When the sprouts are fairly visible, it is 
time to separate the tubers with a sharp knife. Not all tubers produce 
eyes, and the largest tubers do not always produce the strongest plant, 
so don't discard your little tubers, but plant them, and they may give 
you the best blooms. 
After the tubers have been separated, pack them away again in a 
box covered with sawdust or dry moss, and do not plant until June 
first or even the middle of June. 
Dahlias must have an open sunny place with plenty of air and 
light. The soil must be poor, light soil. Sand and gravel seems to be 
ideal since mine do so well, though my ground is exceedingly poor, 
with plenty of brickbats and all sized stone. Rich and manured soil, 
which will make all foliage and few flowers, must be avoided. Simply 
spade and turn over the ground. The soil around the plants must never 
cake. 
Every plant should have a space of three feet between the plants, 
and four feet between the rows. Always grow" dahlias by themselves. 
The roots should be placed horizontally in an opening three inches 
deep, and the sprout or eye should always face upward. No manure 
of any kind should be placed underneath the tuber. It is better to 
place pebbles underneath for drainage. 
It is very necessary to stake every plant and keep them well tied 
with raffia. 
In July, when your plants are about eighteen inches high, cut the 
to'p right off, down to twelve inches from the ground. Then all the 
growth will be flowering, and they will not be over your head. Dahlias 
will grow beyond reach if they are not cut off. Allow only one stalk to 
grQw and keep the little young ones pulled out. 
After the buds appear it is time then to feed the plants, so as to get 
better bloom, larger flowers and bright colors. Keep the soil open, 
all weeds out and feed them once a week, first with manure water, 
next with ground bone, and the following week with Clay's Fertilizer 
and nitrate of soda. This must be used very carefully in small doses, 
or you will kill the plant. Apply the ground bone and Clay's Fertilizer 
dry, work it into the ground, then wash it in. 
I am a great believer in watering, and plenty of it, for the Dahlia 
is a moisture loving plant. Spray the foliage late in the evening and 
water the ground well too. But if you start to water you must keep it up. 
Dahlias do very well at the seashore, on account of the heavy dew 
during the night and the salt air. Weak lime water — a handful of 
lime in a barrel of water — ^will brighten the color. 
' 15 
