DIRECTIONS 
FOR THE GROWING AND CULTIVATION 
OF EXHIBITION DAHLIAS 
Time — The proper time to plant dahlias for exhibition 
purposes in this climate is about the tenth of June. Of 
course, if one is not depending upon the shows, they can 
be planted as soon as the frost is over. In this climate 
we advise a succession of planting from May 15 to July 1. 
Preparing Soil — About one week or ten days before plant¬ 
ing, spade your garden and leave it in the rough, then 
broadcast into soil to every 100 sq. ft. or to approximately 
ten dahlia hills 5 lbs. raw bonemeal mixed with 2 lbs. of 
muriate or sulphate potash which should be raked into the 
soil thoroughly. 
Planting of Roots — Plant about 6 inches deep, no more, 
laying root flat on its side with eye facing upward. Fill 
hole only halfway to top and as sprout grows gradually 
fill in. 
Planting of Green Plants — As plants are received, remove 
cartons and leave in pot. Soak them in shallow water for 
a few minutes in order to freshen plant after its journey 
through the mail. Set out plants in late afernoon or on 
a cloudy day, removing pot from plant. Make sure that 
plant is planted deep enough and if the following day 
should be hot and sunny, suggest shading plant with a 
peach basket during the heat of the day. Fill hole gradu¬ 
ally with dirt as plant grows. 
Cultivation — Keep soil well pulverized and suggest culti¬ 
vation about 24 hours after rainfall, in order to keep the 
soil from becoming baked. This is very important and 
should there be lack of rain, suggest weekly cultivations. 
Discontinue all cultivating after August 15, as roots have 
a tendency to come to top and will be disurbed by con¬ 
tinuous cultivating. 
Watering — Unless weather is very dry, dahlias will need 
no water until they commence to bloom. Then water 
thoroughly, soak the ground every week or ten days as 
needed. 
Insects — Can usually be controlled by spraying weekly 
with a good insecticide. Even though plants appear to 
be clean and healthy, a weekly spray will act as a pre¬ 
ventive. When you find a flower is being eaten or a stem 
drooping, make a search and you will be sure to find the 
troublesome pest, and kill it. 
Disbudding and Disbranching — To get large flowers on 
long stems it is very necessary to disbud and disbranch. 
When plants come up leave only one stalk. After three 
sets of leave appear, pinch out the crown or center. In 
a short time a top pair of laterals will make themselves 
evident which eventually will be a branch of the dahlia 
bush. When the buds appear, leave only one of the three 
