Hou? to Qroip and Care for Dahlias 
F POSSIBLE, plant in an open, sunny situation. Prepare 
the soil thoroughly by deep digging. Be moderate in 
the use of both manure and water. Never plant when 
the soil is wet. Lay the tuber flat on its side and cover 
it four inches deep, pressing the soil firmly on the tuber. 
Keep the soil loose and mellow by frequent hoeing, 
drawing the soil to a slight hillock around the plant. 
Tall growing varieties may be kept fairly dwarf by pinching 
out the tip when the first shoot is six inches high. All varieties 
growing above four feet should be tied to stout stakes to hold 
them in position. 
3x3 feet is about the proper distance to plant apart. 
Keep all dead flowers trimmed off. 
Dahlia blooms keep much better if cut in the evening—about 
sunset—and the less foliage taken off with the flowers, the better 
for both plant and flower. If green is desired, use some other 
green of better keeping qualities. 
After frost has killed the tops, dig the tubers carefully, re¬ 
move the soil from the roots, and store away in a box or barrel 
secure from frost. As a precaution it would be well to cover the 
tubers so stored with sand, leaves or moss. 
All clumps should be divided into several pieces before being 
reset the following spring. 
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IPluj Dealers Do Not Quarantee Plants 
HIS question is often asked, and yet it is a very easy one 
answered and the reasonableness of the answer is clearly 
apparent to all. To guarantee the life of plant in the 
hands of another person is to make the dealer respon¬ 
sible for the errors and inexperience of others, not to 
mention freaks of weather and unfavorable seasons, cut 
worms, insects, bad soil, unfavorable locations and many other 
conditions, over which the dealer has no control. Then, again, 
there are customers who buy plants so late in the season that 
there can be but little hope of success. Most dealers are ready 
and willing to make good plants that are dead upon arrival, but 
it would be unreasonable to ask them to become responsible for 
the future life or conduct of a plant received in good condition. 
Fortunately the percentage of loss in hardy plants is small, as 
they are very tenacious of life. 
W. W. WILMORE DAHLIA FARM. 
