water the plants thoroughly once or twice a 
week. Apply any good fertilizer, stirring the 
soil lightly after. To obtain extra large flow¬ 
ers, disbud freely, leaving only a few buds 
and branches on each plant. If the plant 
grows too bushy, cut off some of the leaves 
and side branches and the plant will flower 
more freely. Green plants should be planted 
twice as deep as they were grown in pots, or 
4 or 5 inches deep. They should be watered 
and shaded a few days after planting. 
CUT FLOWERS 
When using the Dahlia for a cut flower, 
cut in the cool of the day, either late in the 
evening or early in the morning. Take off 
all leaves and buds. Place stems in deep 
vessels filled with cold water. Set in cool 
cellar or ice box for 6 hours or more. They 
are then ready for use. 
SEPARATING THE CLUMPS 
Cut stock close to bulbs, turn clumps upside 
down and put strong knife or hatchet in the 
center; pound it until you make two halves. 
Avoid breaking neck of bulb. Then take hock 
or straight knife and cut off bulbs, being sure 
they have an eye, leaving on as much crown 
as possible. A pair of canvass gloves with the 
right thumb heavily taped will be a help 
KEEPING THE BULBS 
By L. N. Davis 
There are almost as many opinions as there 
are growers, on keeping the tubers over the 
winter. This is perfectly right, as every cel¬ 
lar is different, and this means a decidedly 
different method for storing and preserving 
one’s bulbs. 
First of all, I would suggest that everyone 
keep a thermometer in the cellar, for only in 
this way can you tell how hot or cold it is. 
Now the bulb i'self must be taken into con¬ 
sideration. Is it large or small? Has it a 
tendency to decay easily, or maybe to dry or 
shrivel up to almost nothing? This is the 
time when the evil of over feeding for large 
flowers in the summer becomes apparent. If 
you take several clumps of good bulbs, all the 
same kind put them in storage in the same 
box, in a short time the clump that has been 
forced or fed heavily will begin to decay, or, 
if small sized, will dry up, while those grown 
without any food will be found O. K. 
Next to be considered is the cellar where 
the bulbs are stored. Generally the old-fash¬ 
ioned dirt, bottom cellar, without heat or any 
kind, is almost perfect. About the only care 
