AO CULTIVATION 
varying the water supply of your growing plants. If 
you doubt this dig an experimental plot two spits deep 
adding some compost to the subsoil. Let this be next 
to an equal area dug only the depth of your shovel or 
spade. Cultivate the surface of each plot equally well, 
and in every other way treat the two plots the same. 
The difference in plants and flowers will convince you of 
the worth of deep digging. If you grow flowers for exhi- 
bition deep digging will be a necessity — if your fellow 
exhibitors practice deep digging, for only those plants 
growing in a deeply tilled soil will produce the prize 
winning blooms. If you dig deeply, if you keep the 
dust mulch going, you can plant where you please, and 
have prize winning blooms. Anyone can do this. 
As to location — give your dahlias the choicest 
position in your field or garden. They deserve it, and 
no plant in your garden will respond more generously 
to good treatment, or produce such glorious blooms. 
Give the dahlias the favored spot, and the place of 
honor. Do not plant them in the shade. There are 
two or three named dahlias that will do well in partial 
shade. The exceptionally delicate varieties thrive better 
in partial shade, particularly if it falls upon them during 
the hot middle of the day. Exhibition flowers can be 
produced with a more beautiful texture and greater 
exquisite delicacy of color if protected from the fierce 
fading action of direct sunshine. The use of cheese 
cloth shading at blooming time secures such flowers 
