PREMIER DAHLIA GARDENS 
HOW TO GROW GIANT DAHLIAS 
Dahlias are easily grown, requiring no special skill 
to bring them to perfection. 
They prefer a sunny location but do well in partial 
shade but should not be planted near large trees or 
close to buildings. 
They grow best in light, porous soil having good drain¬ 
age. Sand, pulverized wall plaster, or tine coal ashes 
should be added to lighten heavy clayey soils. 
If manure is used it should be well rotted (best ap¬ 
plied in the Fall) and thoroughly mixed with the soil 
which should be dug deep (12 to 18 inches). 
A green cover crop of Winter Rye planted in the 
Fall and turned under in the Spring will add valuable! 
humus 10 the soil. If the ground is worked over early 
in the Spring, good results will be obtained by planting 
a cover of Oats and Canada Field Peas. Green cover 
crops should not be permitted to grow tall and harden 
ana should be turned under when about 12 inches high. 
They will then rot in from two to three weeks without 
loss of their benefits. About a week before planting 
time broadcast and spade under, commercial fertilizer 
oi 4 per cent nitrogen, 8 per cent phosphoric acid and 
7 per cent potash (advertised as 4-8-7). Five pounds 
should cover approximately 200 square feet. 
Dahlias may be planted from May 1st to July 1st, 
but in this locality June 1st to June 15th is best. They 
should be planted three feet apart in rows and the rows 
siiouid be at least three feet apart, four feet or more 
is better if room is available. 
Drive a stake to support each plant. The stake 
should be four or five feet above ground. 
Never plant clumps, but separate the tubers, planting 
only one in each hole, being sure they have a grow¬ 
ing eye. Lay tuber flat with eye up and two or three 
inches from the stake and about six inches deep. Cover 
two inches with pulverized soil gradually filling to level 
as plant progresses. Keep the top soil finely pulverized 
at all times by cultivating frequently; never allow it 
to harden. 
Watch for cut worms and protect plants from 
same by placing a ring of roof paper cut three and 
one-half inches high about the plant. If plant does 
not do well, examine it closely and if it contains a 
stalk borer a small hole will be found in the side. 
Squirt a few drops of a mild solution of Black Leaf 40 
in the hole. If the plant does not improve in a few days 
cut back the plant until you find the borer. Shade the 
plant from direct rays of sun for two or three days and 
it will in all probability make a quick recovery and a 
healthy growth. If troubled with Aphis or Leaf Hopper 
spray with “Evergreen” or “Red Arrow.” Red Spider 
may be controlled by spraying foliage with hose. A very 
thin solution of glue used as a spray is highly recom¬ 
mended for Red Spider. 
Make Up Your Own Collection For Quotation 
