very light, applications at intervals of a week or ten days may further increase size. 
Dried blood and sheep manures are commonly available sources of nitrogen at most 
supply dealers. It should be noted that with the application of a nitrogen fertilizer the 
keeping qualities of the roots is reduced. Each subsequent applicaticn further reduces 
this keeping property and excessive application will injure the plart, and in cases, 
destroy it. Also, such applications also tend to reduce the vitality of the stock for the 
following year. It will be well for each grower to determine which is of greater im- 
portance to him; extreme size, or good keeping roots of high vitality. Many leading 
exhibitors sacrifice their stock for utmost size of bloom, and purchase, or grow, other 
stock for the following year. Others try to strike a happy medium and still others avoid 
nitrogen fertilizers for ''forcing'' and depend on heavy disbudding and pruning for com- 
parable results. 
Regardless of which of the above plans are followed, some disbudding must be 
employed to bring out all the size possible in a bloom. After the buds appear it will 
be noted that they usually come in clusters of three. The one in the center is generally 
the strongest. Remove the other two and the effort that the plant would expend in 
producing flowers from them goes to the terminal bud which is left. The next two 
or three sets of branches (at each leaf below the terminal bud) may also be removed, 
further increasing the size of the bloom to be produced. Be sure, however, that at least 
one set of branches is left to produce the next flowers. 
Many varieties have a tendency to grow straight up with but a single stalk. If a 
bushy plant is desired pinch out the top of the plant when it is about eighteen inches 
tall. Other varieties may produce too many branches in which case some may be cut 
out. Plants which have been pinched out may be dis-budded as per instructions above. 

OUR GREENHOUSES, LOCATED ON THE FARM OF ROCKY RIVER DAHLIA GARDEN, 
COVER 20,000 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND. IT IS HERE THAT OUR HIGH GRADE 
DAHLIA PLANTS ARE STARTED. IN THE FOREGROUND OF THE ABOVE PICTURE 
MAY BE SEEN SOME OF OUR COLD-FRAMES IN WHICH OUR DAHLIA PLANTS 
RECEIVE THEIR ''FINISHING'' PREPARATORY TO SHIPMENT. (NOTE PILES 
OF HOT-BED SASH ALONG THE WINDBREAK.) 
36) 
