4 
CURTIS DAHLIAS 
TIME OF PLANTING— 
Dahlias should not be planted before the ground becomes 
well warmed by the sun in the Spring. May 15 to 30 is about 
the right time for most locations, although they can be plan¬ 
ted as late its June 20 with good success. 
PLANTING AND CARE OF ROOTS ON ARRIVAL— 
Upon arrival tuber should be planted at once if ground has 
been prepared for them, providing soil is not too wet to work 
If soil is not ready, they should be very carefuUy taken out of 
the box in which they arrived, taking great care in handling 
so that the eyes or sprouts on tubers will not be broken off. 
They should then be put into a larger box of some kind laying, 
them flat in the bottom, and then entirely covering them with 
two or thre'e inches of moist sand, sawdust, or soil, in order 
to kieep them from shriveling or drying out. They should then 
be removed to a cool place in the cfellar and left there until 
rfeady to plant. Drive stakes before planting roots the same 
as with the plants, three feet one way and two or three feet 
apart the other. Then holes should be dug about six inches deep 
at the base of each stake and a root planted in each hole with 
the eye end next to the stake, laying them perfectly flat. UN¬ 
DER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THEY BE STOOD ON 
END. Then place about two inches of w*ell pulverized soil 
over each bulb but do not fill hole clear up. Wait until the 
plant makes some growth and then fill hole up as the plant 
grows up. Allow only one sprout to grow from each root. If 
more than one comes up, save the best on'e and pinch the 
others off. As the sprout grows, it should be tied to the stake 
to keep it from being broken off by heavy rains or wind. 
PREPARATION OF SOIL— 
The soil should be thoroughly spaded and well pulverized 
before planting and if poor, some well-rotted barn yard manure 
or common fertilizer should be well worked in. Dahlias do not 
need very rich soil. 
h; v ri r 
FERTILIZERS— 
In the fall if possible cover your garden with some barn 
yard manure or sow rye and then in the spring after it be¬ 
comes six or twelve inches high plow it under, that provides 
humus of the best kind. Before planting scatter about 5 lbs. 
steamed bone meal and 5 lbs. of wood ashes over the ground 
that will be occupied by about forty dahlia plants. 
About the first of August scatter a good big handful of 
steamed bone meal and two of pulverized sheep manure around 
each plant keeping about six inches from the stalk of plant. 
August 15th repeat the treatment. 
WATERING— 
Dahlias like plenty of water and should be soaked every 
ten days, and oftener while in bloom. Always cultivate well 
after watering as soon as the ground is dry enough to work 
•in order to loosen up the crust that has formed. You can 
easily overwater when plants are young, but you cannot over- 
eultivate them. It is better not to water than to allow a crust 
|o form after watering. As buds form on the plants, they 
should be removed as soon as they appear, up to August 1. 
The idea is to grow your plant first, and then let it bloom. 
PINCHING BACK, OR TOPPING OFF PLANT— 
When the plant shows three or four sets of leaves, we ad¬ 
vise pinching the top off, just above the top pair of leaves; 
this will hold the plant back a week or two, but it will make 
the plant grow more robust and vigorous, and give many 
more, heavier and better branches than would of been had, 
had the plant been allowed to grow naturally. While this is 
not necessary on low growing plants, we urgently advise it on 
all tall growing plants. 
