DAHI.IAS 
126 
Fottler, Fishe, Rawson 
Co. 
DAHLIAS 
Including in otir catalogue a complete list of Dahlias, it may he helpful to mention a few general hints and ideas 
for the f^iircha«(‘, Idanting, Care, Digging of the TuIkts, and the delivery of Dahlias. If these directions are followed in 
general, wcs do not hesitate, to say that everyone should have reasonably satisfactory results, which will be pleasing to 
the grower as well as to ourselves. 
I'he Dahlia deserves a place in every garden, much more so than they did twenty years ago; with the new varieties 
added each season and the (‘xtraordinary array of colors w'hich they possess, the time must come when every lover of 
flowers will always have a few, if not large tracts, of these beautiful Summer and Fall flowers, which thriv'e all over the 
United States, and arc grown with such little care, for the wealth of bloom which they produce. 
'I'he Ideal Fot-Root 
Size of the Bulbs. tuber does not in 
- - - ■■■ any way designate the size or 
quality of the flower. Some of the largest tubers only produce 
the more common colors; the older varieties are represented 
oft(ui in this way. 
Medium and small-sized bulbs more often produce the finest 
and highest colored flowers, and in many cases the best and 
most efTective plants. 
The only requisite of a Dahlia bulb is, be sure that it will 
produce one, two or three eyes, whether large or small, and 
with proper cultivation success is generally assured. 
Note .—Many of our bulbs are pot grown, and should flow'ers 
I>e desired early—pot-grown roots started in March and grown 
along indoors or in frames will flower earlier than those made 
from cuttings. 
Kxhihitors sliould consider this point before purchasing. 
Buying of the Bulbs. The buying of the burns is a very important part in the results that are anticipated, 
- ^ -s_! when planting time comes upon us. The first thought should be where to purchase, 
and we may say that wo feel that we can meet the demands of the most critical. Our collection is now the finest in 
America. The varietie.s an? strictly up-to-date, and the quality of our stock is not surpassed in this country or abroad. 
Our supply of new and recent introductions, especially those for 1916, is limited, and we advise the purchasing of these 
at once, while such varieties are procurable. 
Soil Sind Fertilizers suited for the Dahlia is a medium light, loamy, and well drained; it should 
- -;--—! be ploughed or dug over in the Fall and stable manure added at that time to allow de¬ 
composition during the W inter, then another thorough w'orking over in the Spring, allowing it to mellow before planting 
is begun. 
Fertilizers should not be added until the plants have made a good growth, or rather better to be used about the time 
the first buds appear, whi(?h will enable the plant to better i)erfect its bloom. 
LoCa.tion Dahlia Is not as particular as most of our Summer flowers, and will succeed under a great many 
■ I - aflverse conditions. There are, however, certain locations where Dahlias seem to outdo themselves. 
An open, sunny location seems to favor them at all times. Care should always l^e taken to protect them from heavy 
winds, as their tops are generally heavy and brittle, and have a tendency to snap off, if not protected by a windbreak or 
heavy stakes, to which they should be firndy tied. 
We also note that Dahlias are particularly adapted for sejishore use, and not only do w(*ll, but thrive, for the reason 
of the moisture and heavy dews which collect during the nights. 
Dahlias should not he planted in low places unless well drained, for should they unfortunately receive a number of 
days’ steady rains the tendency is that the tubers may decay and naturally cause the loss of the plants. Having suffered 
a severe loss on this account some time ago, we think it advisable to warn otlicrs that they may avoid these unforeseen 
happenings. 
The time for planting 
__ Dalilias varies quite a 
good deal, according to the locality, whether sheltered 
or open, early or lateness of the season, and the time 
wlien the general crop is desired. 
In New England the tubers may be set out as early 
as May 1st in some sections and from then until the 
middle of June or first of July. 
Some of our best blooms have been grown from tubers 
planted out about June 20, obtaining the choicest flow¬ 
ers d\iring the latter part of September. 
Daliliivs should be planted from to 3 feet apart 
and covered to a depth of four inches. 
Division of the Tubers. Ti>e of the 
--;__ tubers must not be 
undertaken until Spring, or from two to four weeks be¬ 
fore planting time. Care must be obsei^'cd in the dis¬ 
section of these, whereby a small piece of the crown or 
old stalk must be left with each tuber, to enable the 
eyes to sprout, as most of the eyes are on this crown, 
and very rarely on the tubers themselves. See illus¬ 
tration. 
N'ote crown at top of each tuber 
where eye sprouts 
Field roots of different sizes, equally 
good and correctly divided 
