PREMIER DAHLIA GARDENS 
HOW TO GROW GIANT DAHLIAS 
Dahlias are easily grown, requiring no special 
skill to bring them to perfection. 
They prefer a sunny location but do well in par¬ 
tial shade but should not be planted near large 
trees or close to buildings. 
They grow best in light, porous soil having 
good drainage. Sand, pulverized wall plaster, or 
fine coal ashes should be added to lighten heavy 
clayey soils. 
If manure is used it should be well rotted (best 
applied in the Fall) and thoroughly mixed with 
the soil which should be dug deep(12 to 18 inches) 
A green cover crop of Winter Rye planted in the 
Fall and turned under in the Spring will add val¬ 
uable humus to the soil. If the ground is worked 
over early in the Spring, good results will be ob¬ 
tained by planting a cover of Oats and Canada 
Field Peas. Green cover crops should not be per¬ 
mitted to grow tall and harden and should be 
turned under when about 12 inches high. They 
will then rot in from two to three weeks without 
loss of their benefits. About a week before plant¬ 
ing time broadcast and spade under, commercial 
fertilizer of 4 per cent nitrogen, 8 per cent phos¬ 
phoric acid and 6 per cent potash (advertised as 
4-8-6). Five pounds should cover approximately 
200 square feet. 
Dahlias may be planted from May 1st to July 
1st, but in this locality June 1st to June 15th is 
best. They should be planted three feet apart in 
rows and the rows should be at least three feet 
apart, four feet or more is better if room is 
available. 
Drive a stake to support each plant. The stake 
should be four or five feet above ground. 
Never plant clumps, but separate the tubers, 
planting only one in each hole, being sure they 
have a growing eye. Lay tuber flat with eye up 
and two or three inches from the stake and about 
six inches deep. Cover two inches with pulveriz¬ 
ed soil gradually filling to level as plant progress¬ 
es. Keep the top soil finely pulverized at all times 
by cultivating frequently; never allow it to hard¬ 
en. 
Watch for cut worms and protect plants from 
same by placing a ring of roof paper cut three and 
one-half inches high about the plant. If plant 
does not do well examine it closely and if it con¬ 
tains a stalls borer a small hole will be found in 
the side. Squirt a few drops of a mild solution of 
Black Leaf 40 in the hole. If the plant does not 
improve in a few days cut back the plant until 
