24 FERTILIZERS AND 
lessened, and the plant begins to starve to death. In 
time it may be said to be a living skeleton; a bony 
(woody) skinny specimen, lacking the attractive 
grace and form of properly nourished well-being, and 
without the "bloom of youth," namely-and-to-wit, 
flowers. 
Dahlias and other plants growing in a deeply culti- 
vated soil in a region of normal annual rainfall hardly 
ever suffer from lack of moisture. There is usually 
ample moisture in soils. Deeply plowed or spaded, 
the surface always well pulverized by cultivation, the 
roots grow downwards where they find coolness and 
moisture. The surface evaporates the soil's water 
content but slowly, because capillary attraction has 
been broken up by cultivation. The water cannot 
readily escape. 
Just as the best child training begins before the 
child is born, a generation ahead none too early, so 
with growing exhibition dahlia blooms. Attend as 
many dahlia shows as possible. The annual Show of 
the American Dahlia Society in New York is an amaz- 
ing, marvellous spectacle of horticultural miracles, and 
is worth a day's journey. At this show, September 27- 
30, 1921, the dahlias in practically every competitive 
exhibit were Pierrot, Tom Lundy, John Lewis Ghilds, 
F. W. Fellows, Millionaire, Judge, President Wilson, 
Dr. Tevis, George Walters, and William Slocombe. 
Dahlias having the largest flowers on long stems were 
