20 
The Garden Magazine, March, 1923 
them; but by the next day a new influx arrives, so it is necessary 
to keep up the treatment continuously during the season of their 
attacks. They have a tendency to light upon white flowers 
first and on some places Frau Karl Druschki Roses have been 
planted to attract the bugs and so afford some protection to the 
other varieties. The aphis, or plant lice, are controlled by 
nicotine preparations which are procurable at the seed stores 
and should be used carefully as directed by the manufacturer to 
avoid spotting the leaves. 
Mildew is the most serious disease encountered. This is a 
fungus which causes the grey spots on the leaves and, if allowed 
to persist, the foliage becomes so discolored and distorted as to 
detract from the beauty of the flowers. Mildew most often 
makes its appearance during a period of damp muggy weather 
-hard on plants as on people—and spreads rapidly. Pow¬ 
dered sulphur dusted on the plants is a practical remedy and 
should be used as a preventive measure when such weather 
comes on. If the infection appears, use the sulphur often until 
all trace of the disease is gone. 
T HE most efficient method of winter protection is to hill the 
plants with earth eight or ten inches up the stems and cover 
the hill with manure or litter. In the spring this is smoothed 
down and the bushes are pruned back to the same number of 
buds as when first planted. This work is not to be done until 
the weather becomes mild, however, for if the buds start and 
then freeze, the plants suffer and may even die from the shock. 
There are so many really excellent and desirable varieties of 
Hybrid-tea Roses that it seems futile to suggest any special se¬ 
lection, especially as any one starting a new Rose garden will be 
largely swayed by his own tastes and color preferences. It is 
always well to play safe and include several of the older varieties 
for their hardiness is proven and their colors are good; some are 
slightly more tender than others but if all are given good winter 
protection there will be little loss. But do not omit a trial of 
at least one or two of the newest attractions, for there is a fascin¬ 
ation indescribable in watching the unfolding of that which is 
the newest, and with which only the select few have an acquain¬ 
tance —you being one of that few ! 
RAISING DAHLIAS FROM SEED—A FLIGHT INTO 
THE UNKNOWN 
CHARLTON BURGESS BOLLES 
OTgF YOU can spare one hundred feet for a row of seedlings, 
■WMujPi by all means plant them. Buy the best seed you can. 
WW- . Several growers both West and East offer specially 
hand-crossed seed. The probabilities are greater for 
new sorts of lasting excellence from such carefully selected seed.” 
Thus did you read in The Garden Magazine of last September 
(page 32) when we had something to say of the sport of raising 
Dahlias from seed. The promise then made to speak of the 
how and when at “a seasonable time” is here fulfilled. 
Where the growing season is long and Sugar Corn is planted 
by May 10th, Dahlia seeds can be sown directly out of doors 
if, after deeply plowing or digging, the surface is finely pre¬ 
pared, the seed carefully covered a quarter inch with very 
fine soil, or with sand, and the soil firmed about them to ensure 
good contact with the soil. 
Starting the seeds in coldframe or window box, about April 
first in regions where frost does not nip the plants till some time 
in October is the usual procedure; earlier planting is not ad¬ 
visable, indeed, as large plants at transplanting time are hard to 
handle. The seedlings should be grown slowly and cool, and 
can be planted in the open as early as April 25th. 1 he row can 
be short, and the plants transplanted; or it can be long, and the 
seedlings thinned to 20 inches, those taken up being trans¬ 
planted elsewhere. Where summers are very short the seeds 
must be planted in late February. In California seeds sown in 
the open April 1st will produce bloom in August. 
For flats or coldframes sift the soil, add one third sand if con¬ 
venient. A fluid ounce of formalin to fifty ounces 
of water, using two quarts of the solution to every 
square foot of soil in flat or coldframe, before sow¬ 
ing seeds, is likely to kill entirely all damping-off 
fungi besides somewhat stimulating the growth 
of the seedlings. Sow seeds, one quarter inch 
apart, first firming the soil. Cover not more 
than quarter of an inch—with sand nearly half 
an inch does no harm. The seeds have vigorous sprouts and 
unless well covered will lift themselves out and dry and die. 
After sowing, water thoroughly; being careful, however, not to 
wash out the seeds. A very fine sprinkling nozzle is almost 
necessary. Do not water again for a week unless the soil dries 
out too much. Watch out, however, lest the sensitive sprouts 
meet too much dryness and die. 
White paper or cheesecloth, or very open woven burlap (onion 
bagging) should be hung before the window box, or over the 
coldframe, to lessen the intense sun light for a week as the sprout¬ 
ing seeds push through the soil. Keep cool. Germination and 
growth should be as slow as possible at first. A temperature of 
6 o °-65°, Fahrenheit, is just right both for germination' and 
growing. 
S OME of the seeds will be slow in coming up. Watch them. 
If any are six weeks in sprouting take particular care of 
such, for the finest flowers, both in color and form, are likely to 
come from these late-starting seeds. When well up give full 
sunshine, lest they grow too slender, but keep them cool at all 
times. Do not permit strong currents of air to strike them. 
With the glass of a coldframe raised a cold spring wind could 
blast them beyond recovery. 
Amateurs de luxe shift the seedlings from flats or frame into 
small flower-pots when three sets of leaves have formed, and 
later into larger pots. This is not necessary, but does provide 
exceptionally thrifty plants, and makes transplanting a pleasure; 
but setting in the garden directly from flats an¬ 
swers very well and is quite convenient for the 
average gardener. Disturb the roots as little as 
possible. Have the soil in the flats just right 
with moisture, and set the plants six inches 
deep, filling the trench as they grow. 
Then hold yourself in patience, and await the 
unfolding of the unknown! It’s great! 
