J. K. Alexander , E. Bridgewater , Massachusetts. E. Bridgewater Dahlia Gardens 
* 
How to Keep Cut Blooms 
of Dahlias 
Freshly cut flowers will keep considerably longer, 
and wilted flowers if not in too serious condition, will be 
entirely restored in appearance if the following sugges- 
stems, but not the foliage, almost their entire length 
into the water; let them remain in the water until it 
cools, then transfer into cold water as in usual manner, 
with the addition of a quarter teaspoonful of salt to a 
quart of water. If the stems are particularly hard and 
wiry, water near boiling point may be used to good 
advantage. My suggestion would be try it and be con¬ 
vinced, regulating depth of water to length of stems. 
SIZE OF BULBS. The size of the bulb or tuber 
does not in any way designate the size or quality of the 
flower. Some varieties of Dahlias always produce 
very small bulbs, while other varieties 
make large ones. Do not consider small 
bulbs worthless, for they are equally as 
good and in many cases better than 
large ones. Medium and small sized 
bulbs more often produce the finest 
and highest colored flowers, and in 
many cases the best and most effective 
plants. The only requisite of a Dahlia 
bulb is: be sure that your bulb has one 
or two eyes or sprouts, whether large 
or small, and with proper cultivation, 
success is generally assured. A clump, 
root, bulb, or division of a clump, pot- 
root, cutting, sprout, and even a Dah¬ 
lia seed, will grow and blossom, all 
equally well. It is not the size, but the 
care and cultivation—cultivation is the 
principal requirement of the Dahlia. 
CONCLUSION. There are no set 
rules to follow invariably by all or even 
by any one grower year after year. In 
fact, each soil, location, climate or 
season, may call for different treatment. 
Study your plants; watch them as they 
develop; try all experiments along lines 
in harmony with nature’s laws. Suc¬ 
cess with Dahlias is the same as with 
anything else; do everything in modera¬ 
tion; excess in any direction is unwise. 
In many locations conditions are so 
favorable that Dahlias grow to perfec¬ 
tion with practically no attention. So 
it is with seasons—some years Dahlias 
do well the entire season, but there is 
no reason why Dahlias should not be 
grown successfully year after year. My 
methods of cultivation are simple and 
easily followed, the treatment and re¬ 
quirements are so simple, there is no 
reason why you should not be success¬ 
ful with your Dahlias. The Dahlia is 
one of the easiest plants to grow and 
will produce more flowers than any 
other plant in the garden, if properly 
cared for. 
tions are followed. Cut blossoms in early part of 
the day, whenever possible. Fill receptacle with water, 
as hot as can be borne by one’s hand. Plunge the 
New Decorative Dahlia—“Yellow Mons. Le Normand” 
K actual size. $2.00 each. 
(See page 28 for description.) 
Dahlia Cutting Knives 
: n _ a -.i y customers have asked me what kind of a knife I use in separating my clumps of dahlias so think- 
Th^n WA^h!t+roV COnV v men +u 0 - r my cus . torners * 1 am offering the knives we use to separate the dahlia clumDS 
with S j 0W ®j t r eir Seneral appearance. This knife has a two inch blade made of finest tool ste^f 
End ev , ery blad ® 8ecurely rivited in the handle. The blades are ground 
lias Si h ^ S °^ aI taper rubberoid handle. In addition to being used in cutting dah- 
foil’s 1 ^ item for’paring am?potetoe° g ^ ^ W- The'women 
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