DAHLIAS — PLANTS 
7 
DAHLIA CULTURE AS PRACTICED AT 
MANATAWNA GARDENS 
Selection of varieties is only the beginning. Our 
interest in your success only commences with your 
order. Each Patron or order gets personal supervision; 
we want every customer to have the best success with 
Manatawna Dahlias. We cordially invite our custom¬ 
ers to talk or write to us telling of their troubles. We 
will cheerfully give any information or help possible. 
We are not the largest dahlia growers in the world, 
we grow only the best dahlias. 
We are only too glad to give you any advice to help 
you grow good dahlias. 
PREPARING THE SOIL 
The dahlia, as most tuberous-rooted plants, grow best 
in light or sandy soil, well drained loam, or any fragile 
soil with good drainage; some of our customers have 
grown prize dahlias in heavy clay soil. First learn the 
proper food and treatment and give careful attention, 
you will have success. All they need is proper food, 
water, cultivation and a little attention. 
To get the best results plow or spade as early as 
possible and again just before planting. This fines up 
the soil so there are no air spaces or lumps and mixes 
up the manure or fertilizer into the soil. If the soil is 
rich use no manure or fertilizer; if poor broadcast 
manure before your first spading. The second spading 
will mix the manure thoroughly with the soil. If ma¬ 
nure is not available use Bone Meal, apply 5 lbs. to 
each 100 sq. ft. and rake in before planting. 
PLANTING 
This is a question most growers differ on a great 
deal; it depends on when you want flowers. Some 
people plant their dahlias as soon as they can, having 
them in bloom in June and July, when the weather is 
hot and hardens them, causing the buds to come into 
bloom premature and imperfect. 
WHEN TO PLANT 
If you desire a mass of color for the background or 
landscape effect early planting is desired. Plant after 
May 1st for Pennsylvania and New Jersey. After the 
plants have made two leaves of growth above the 
ground pinch out the top of them. 
For exhibition blooms later planting is advisable, 
unless you want medium size blooms and intend to 
cut back, prune, and disbud systematically. 
Dahlias should be planted in the latitude of New 
York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey May 15th; Dela¬ 
ware, Maryland and Virginia from April 15th to May 
1st. 
