East Bridgewater Dahlia Cardens ]. K. Alexander , £asf Bridgewater , Massachusetts 
near the top of 
the ground; and 
when you have a 
dry spell your 
plant becomes 
stunted ; whereas, 
if the bulbs were 
planted flat down six 
inches deep, no mat¬ 
ter how dry the sea¬ 
son, the bulbs would 
receive sufficient mois¬ 
ture to keep them 
growing. If plant¬ 
ing with manure, cov¬ 
er manure an inch or 
so before planting 
bulbs ; Fertilizer 
should be thoroughly 
worked into the soil. Either Fertilizer or Manure 
will burn the sprout; be sure to cover with soil. 
By planting the bulb first, then covering an inch 
or so with soil, and applying your Fertilizer or 
Manure, your plant receives the entire benefit of 
the dressing. The dressing is above the bulb, and 
every rain carries the food down to the roots, 
whereas, if your dressing is below the bulb, each 
rain takes your dressing further away from your 
plant. 
Summary : Plant bulb six inches deep, flat down, 
having sprout or eye facing upward, cover with 
soil an inch or so, apply dressing, and cover in 
level. 
CULTIVATION—Cultivation is the principal re¬ 
quirement of the Dahlia; the most important of 
all operations to insure success. Keep the soil 
well cultivated, and free from weeds; never allow 
the soil to crust. 
CARE OF PLANTS—Give thorough cultivation, 
deep at first, and continue once a week until the 
plants commence to flower. After they commence 
to blossom, do not cultivate, as then is the time 
the new roots are forming, and you are apt to 
cut off the new tubers, weakening the growth of 
the plant. Do not fail to stir the soil after every 
rain, keeping the soil from forming a crust on 
the surface or baking; and conserving the mois¬ 
ture in the soil; 
thus avoiding 
the necessity of 
watering. 
As the shoot 
or plant com¬ 
mences to show 
itself above the 
ground, care 
should be tak¬ 
en at this time 
for the pre¬ 
vention of cut¬ 
worms, and 
other pests that 
destroy the young 
shoots, and I 
recommend Ver- 
mine, Aphol, Cut 
Worm Food, or 
Tobacco Dust, as 
best preventive 
for these pests. 
As soon as the plants attain a 
height of eight to ten inches it is 
time to commence to “train” your 
plants. 
There are three systems from 
which you must choose: The Stak¬ 
ing System, the Branching Method, 
and the Massing System. 
The Staking System is the 
most popular, many amateurs 
finding it the most successful. 
Dahlias under this system should 
be planted from two to four feet 
apart, according to the amount 
of space you have to devote; the 
larger, the more robust the 
plants. Stakes should be set 
when the Dahlia is planted. As 
soon as plants attain a height of 
from two to three feet they should 
be secured to the stakes, thus pro¬ 
tecting them, and preventing the 
brittle stalks from being blown 
over or getting broken. 
The Branching Method. This sys¬ 
tem is advocated by many profes¬ 
sionals and does away with Stak¬ 
ing. Plant in hills or rows, from 
eighteen to thirty inches apart 
When your plant has two sets of 
leaves, pinch off or cut out the 
whole top of the plant; at each 
leaf a branch will start, thus mak¬ 
ing four branches, one at each leaf. Do not pinch 
off your plant but once; as this system makes 
your plants two weeks later in flowering; but you 
receive four flower stalks, each of which will 
blossom equal to the one stalk, which you would 
have received had you left your plants growing 
without pinching. When the plant is grown it 
will have a short, strong, single stalk, which 
comes only an inch or two above the ground, with 
four branches or flowering stalks. The plant is 
short, and has a neat branching appearance; the 
branches are self-supporting and are not easily 
blown over by the winds. 
The Massing System. The system I use in 
planting my immense fields—avoiding the extra 
labor and expense of staking, the woodeny effect 
of stakes in your garden, and giving a solid mass 
of foliage and flowers, more beautiful and effect¬ 
ive than where nature’s beauty is broken at each 
interval with a stake. Plant bulbs in rows, from 
ten inches to two feet apart, according to the 
amount of space you have to devote. The plants 
are self-supporting; each plant supporting and 
protecting the other. 
At the height of 18 inches spray occasionally 
with Arsenate of Lead, Nico-Fume Liquid, Nico- 
ticide, Tobakine, Whale Oil Solution, or other 
first-class solutions to kill and keep away the aphis 
or green fly, which often infest Dahlias. 
Collection of three 
Colossal Dahlias 
for 75c, prepaid. 
ROSE, at the 
right. (Seepage 
37). 
REGGIE, at the 
left. 
YELLOW CO- 
LOSSE, below. 
For descriptions 
see page 34. 
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