bAHLIAbEL NURSERIES 
Drawing Z is another system, which is reconv 
mended for some varieties but can be used for most 
dahlias (except crotch bloomers) should you desire 
to see one early bloom. Our reason for not recom' 
mending this is that dahlias are not at their best in 
the hot weather and this one bloom is not always up 
to expectation. Again, the right half shows normal 
branch and bud development when not disbudded, 
with most of the growth in the top of the plant. 
There are, however, a few varieties that need the 
mature foliage on the main stalk to keep the roots 
functioning properly, so when removing this crown 
bloom leave the central stalk and leaves on the plant 
but disbud the entire stalk, as shown on the left 
half of drawing. 
Key Letters Used in Index 
The key letter just ahead of the price is our recom' 
mendation of the system to use in topping and dis' 
budding for each variety listed. 
V Do not disbud. For early blooms pinch out once 
or twice as indicated on right side of Drawings 
X and Y. For later blooms, cut back to about 6 
inches above ground 6 weeks before you want 
blooms when growing in light soils; in heavy soil 
allow 7 to 8 weeks. Always leave the side shoots 
or branches to come into bloom. This system 
works very well for the smaller type dahlias; 
§uch as, miniature, pompon, single, orchid flow' 
ering, anemone, and collarette; also for the larg' 
er dahlias when grown for mass color and land' 
*cape effects. 
W Cut back six weeks before you want bloom leav' 
ing about six small branches for your first six 
blooms and disbud as soon as laterals are large 
enough by following Drawing X, if stems are 
naturally long, and Y when stems are short. 
X, Y, Z See Drawings. 
IRRIGATION 
When your dahlias need water, wet the ground so 
it will penetrate about a foot deep when growing in 
light soil. In heavy soil, watering need not be as 
heavy, as it may be followed by a rain and over' 
watering may result. Cultivate as soon as sufficient 
drainage has taken place, and do not water again 
until necessary, a good watering should last about a 
week. 
Except as recommended below for insect control, 
do not spray your dahlia bushes, nor sprinkle the 
surface of the ground every night or so, for this will 
only pack the surface, preventing air circulation and 
causing the soil to crust and dry rapidly in the sun' 
shine. This also draws the feed roots to the surface, 
to be sickened by the heat of the sun’s rays. The 
flowers produced are soft and the root development 
very poor, low in vitality and hard to winter. 
TILE DRAINAGE can be easily and inexpensive' 
ly installed in heavy soil for irrigating in dry weather 
and afford drainage in wet weather. Arrange your 
rows of dahlias with the natural slope and where 
each row of dahlias is to be planted, dig a trench 
about 15 inches deep and place in it a row of porous 
drainage tile with a uniform fall toward the low end. 
Connect the rows of tile across at top and bottom 
(glazed sewer tile tees suggested), install a gate 
valve at the low corner, and pipe off so that the wa¬ 
ter will readily drain away. On the high corner of 
your garden, install a vertical tile stand pipe in 
which a float valve or hose can be used for filling. 
In wet weather, leave the gate valve open to drain. 
In dry weather, close the gate and run water in the 
stand pipe until you have given your dahlias a good 
drink by sub'irrigation. This system can be made 
still more efficient by filling in around the drainage 
tile with a coarse porous material, such as coarse ash' 
es, or coarse sand, before filling level with regular 
garden soil. This installation will not be unsightly 
and last indefinitely. 
Automatic overhead irrigation is the most satisfac' 
tory albaround system for light soils. It is ideal for 
the early growing season and we recommend its use 
in the middle of the day in bright sunshine during 
this period, as it will discourage thrips and leaf'hop' 
pers and control red spider. If insects are bad we 
recommend sprinkling every two or three days from 
1 to 1 V 2 hours each time until insects are under con' 
trol, then harden the plants off with less water and 
more cultivation. This will not only discourage in' 
sects but help the plants out'grow the insect injury. 
When bushes are well developed and buds breaking 
it is best to water after nightfall, less often and more 
thoroughly. Once a week should be sufficient in 
real dry weather. 
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