94 
AFIER CULTURE. 
Dahlia is greatly benefited by this system of mulching and waterin^.; 
for, unlike many other kinds of plants, it seeks its nourishment chiefly 
from the surface of the soil; and its roots will be found, in favorable 
circumstances, to be clustered together near it. Throughout the sum¬ 
mer it is also advantageous to the plants to have the earth around tho 
roots carefully loosened by the use of a fork, from time to time 
AFTER CULTURE. 
Dahlias should never be pruned until the bloom buds show, and 
then but few branches should be cut out, and only such as are grow¬ 
ing across others. The buds should be thinned, for it is by these that 
the strength of the plant gets exhausted. By* removing all that are 
too near one to be bloomed, and all those that show imperfections 
enough to prevent them being useful, much strength will be gained 
by the future flowers. So, also, by pulling off the blooms themselves, 
the moment they are past perfection, instead of letting them seed. 
Winds and sun are both detrimental; and the practice of fixing the 
blooms in the centre of a flat board, and covering them with glass or 
flower pots, as they may want light or shade, is becoming general. 
The more easy way is to use a paper shade for any particular fine 
bloom; for however the flowers may be coaxed and nursed under 
cover, a stand of blooms, grown finely, and merely shaded from the 
hottest sun, will beat all others in brilliancy, and in standing carriage, 
and keeping. It is right to go round the plants, and, wherever there 
is a promising bud or bloom, to take away all the leaves and shoots 
that threaten to touch it as they grow; take off also the adjoining 
buds; and if the weather be windy, make it fast to a stick or one of 
the stakes, that it may not be bruised or frayed; shade it from the 
broiling sun, and it will so profit by the air and night dews, as com¬ 
parer 1 with the bloom under pots and glasses, that if the growth be 
equal, f ne blooming will be superior. Nevertheless people will cover; 
and where there is a disposition to a hard eye, it will hardly come out 
perfect unless it is covered. As the end of September approaches, or 
