80 
DAHLIA. 
press it gently with the foot, and level it; they should 
be planted moderately deep, for fear of a dry summer. 
Where Dahlias are grown successively on the same 
soil, they soon deteriorate and produce inferior flow¬ 
ers, or (as it is termed,) run out. Many kinds that 
have been grown on a sandy soil several years, will 
improve by being planted in a good loam, and vice 
versa. 
Culture. —As the Dahlias advance in growth, a 
strong stake should be placed to each plant, and the 
lateral branches should all be trimmed off to a certain 
height from the ground, in proportion to the growth 
of the plant, — say for dwarfs, 12 inches, increasing 
to 18 or 20 inches for the tallest. As the upper branch¬ 
es get long, and the main stem increases, let them be 
well secured to the stake. A very good way is to put 
three stakes in a triangular form, and tie a cord or 
hoop round the stakes, about a foot apart, thus form¬ 
ing a stand, which makes them very secure from wind. 
A little attention will be required to keep the branches 
tied to the stakes, as they advance in growth ; and to 
have Dahlias produce fine flowers, they should be kept 
thin of buds and shoots. Keeping them clean of 
weeds, and occasionally stirring the soil, and in dry 
weather, giving them a good watering at the root, is 
all that they require. 
Preserving the roots. —When the frost has de¬ 
stroyed the Plant, the stems should be left standing a 
week or two, to ripen the roots, for if cut off* soon 
after the frost has nipped them, they are apt to 
sprout again. 
