HOUSE AND GARDEN 
299 
not set out until later. A good rule to 
follow would be to plant small roots and 
green plants as soon as the danger from 
frosts is passed, and large roots about 
three weeks earlier. 
During its early stage of development, 
the dahlia grows very rapidly, and should 
be kept thoroughly tilled. But, while deep 
tillage is beneficial during the early stages 
of development, it is almost fatal to the 
production of flowers if practiced after 
the plants come into bloom. Therefore, 
when the plants commence to bloom, cease 
deep tillage and stir the soil to the depth 
of one to three inches only, but stir it 
often, and never allow the surface to be¬ 
come hard and baked. This will not only 
prevent excessive evaporation of moisture 
and keep the undersoil cool and moist, but 
will also prevent the destruction of im¬ 
mense quantities of feeding roots. 
As long as the roots supply more 
nourishment than is needed to support 
the plant, both the plant and the flowers 
increase in size and beauty; but as the 
supply gradually becomes exhausted the 
plants cease growing and the flowers be¬ 
come much smaller. This condition is 
generally called “bloomed out,” but it is 
really “starved out,” and can easily be 
prevented if the proper attention is given 
to the plants. As soon as the flowers 
commence to grow smaller, broadcast 
around each plant a small handful of pure 
bone meal and nitrate of soda, in propor¬ 
tion four parts bone to one part soda, and 
carefully work it into the soil. 
In planting the roots or tubers, place 
them on their sides with the eye as near 
the bottom as possible; cover only two to 
three inches deep. As soon as the shoots 
appear, remove all but the strongest one, 
and pinch out the center of that one as 
soon as two or three pairs of leaves have 
formed, thus forcing it to branch below 
the level of the ground. As the plants 
develop, the soil is filled in gradually bv 
subsequent hoeings. By this method the 
entire strength of the root and the soil is 
concentrated on the one shoot, causing it 
to grow vigorously; while the pinching 
back not only causes it to branch below 
the surface of the soil, and thus brace it 
against all storms, but also removes all of 
those imperfect, short-stemmed flowers 
that appear on some varieties. If the 
plants are pinched back low, as described, 
there is no danger of the branches splitting 
clown, as the soil around them will hold, 
them securely in place. 
As soon as the plants are killed by 
irost, lift the roots, and, after removing 
all the soil possible from them, allow them 
to dry in the air for a few days under 
cover, when they should be stored in the 
cellar or some other cool place secure from 
frost and yet not warm enough to start 
premature growth. This gives the tops 
chance to die down before they are cut ofif, 
while the clinging soil falls away readily. 
If the cellar is very dry or is not frost¬ 
proof, put the roots in a barrel or box 
Why Endure Your Neighbors’ Ugly Buildings 
When a Planting of 
Moons’ Trees and Shrubbery 
Will Hide Them Like This? 
T O hide ugly views is but one use of Moons’ Shrubbery. Why not 
a planting to soften the angular lines of house foundations; a 
shrubbery grouping to give an uninterrupted succession of bloom; a 
garden for the enjoyment of Roses and flowers; or trees for cooling 
shade about the lawn or avenue? 
Moons’ Hardy Trees and Plants for Every Place and Purpose 
increase your enjoyment arid enhance real estate 
Write for catalog, or better still, tell us of the planting you have in mind 
that you may have the benefit of personal letter-aid from a firm established 43 
years and growing a stock of over 2200 varieties on 450 acres. 
THE WM. H. MOON COMPANY 
Philadelphia Office- Nurserymen Makefield Place, 
Room D, 21 S. 12th St. Morrisville, Pa. 
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IRISES 
EXCLUSIVELY 
The most wonderful collection in America. 
Over 500 varieties. Beautiful catalog on request. 
THE GARDENS, Dayton, O. 
' REES and SHRUB fl 
PORTER’SJJHIGHJQUALITYJSTOCK ^ 
Illustrated Price List free. Write]for copyttoday I 
T 
A PORTER’S NURSERIES 
Box 260 Evanston, III. 
NOTE — Big Stock of Large Specimen Norway Maples at Low Prices 
'©Hen Comfort 
Av- You can get solid comfort from 
Mathews Summer Houses 
and Garden Decorations. 
First send for our free 
portfolio containing many 
beautiful plates of garden decoration. 
Then lay out your garden plans or let 
our artist offer free suggestions. Have 
a real outdoor living room this summer. 
Free Portfolio of Garden Plates 
Send for this portfolio today. It con¬ 
tains over 150 attractive designs of 
summer houses, pergolas, trellises, 
arbors, etc. Ask about our wonder¬ 
ful line of bird houses. 
The Mathews Manufacturing Co. 
909 Williamson Bldg Cleveland, O. 
In writing to advertisers, please mention House & Garden, 
