KUNZMAN, NEW ALBANY, INDIANA 
5 
many Dahlia tubers in each box as it makes too heavy a weight 
for the bottom ones. 
Before the clumps are stored away for the winter, attach the 
name of the Dahlia to each clump with a copper wire run around 
the neck of one of the tubers, cut the stem off close to the clump, 
to prevent stem rot. 
It is also a good plan to look at the Dahlias once in a while 
during the winter to see that they are not shriveling up or dry' 
ing or rotting from excess moisture. 
Put the boxes where they cannot possibly get wet. If you 
put them on the cellar floor, raise them a little in case of rains 
that might flood the cellar. 
When spring comes and the frost is out of the ground, ex' 
amine the roots. It is a good plan to moisten them before you 
are ready to divide and plant them. The moisture will make the 
eyes sprout. In a good many cases people find their roots have 
sprouted already. If they have, cut the eyes back to the first 
joint so that they will not break off so easily. Be very careful 
of the eyes on Dahlia tubers. They are just as important for 
theii growing as our eyes are for seeing. 
Cut with sharp knife on dotted line. 
A little before time to plant, divide the roots, cutting them 
so that each tuber or root has an eye. The roots grow around 
the central stem and the eyes are close to this. The tuber (or 
root) simply supplies the food and furnishes root growth for the 
eye or bud to use. 
Pack your separate divisions carefully in sand or peat moss 
until you are ready to plant them. 
Dahlia Do’s and Dont’s 
DON’T 
Plant in dense shade. 
Plant too close to trees or buildings. 
Plant before frost is out of the ground. 
Let more than one shoot grow from the tuber. 
Pull up the clump at digging time. 
Divide the clump until the eyes begin to sprout. 
Expect a $5.00 bloom from a 25'cent tuber. 
Let the tubers dry out and shrivel up over the winter. 
DO 
Cultivate. 
Prevent insects with good insecticide (Black Leaf 40 or other 
mixtures). 
Clean up the garden in the fall. Burn the rubbish. This will 
destroy all grubs and cut worms. 
Cut off a portion of the stem with the tuber when you divide. 
Examine the roots during the winter. 
Help your Dahlias and they will help themselves. 
