CULTURAL SUGGESTIONS 
Dahlias are very hardy and will grow under a large 
variety of conditions. There are, however, certain con- 
ditions under which they will grow best and attain their 
grandest perfection. 
Planting should be done any time in May up to the 
first part of June. Prepare the garden well, dig holes four 
to six inches deep and lay the dahlia root flat, partly fill 
in hole and scatter a small handful of a good potato fer- 
tilizer around and rake in. The holes should be two to 
four feet apart, depending upon amount of space you 
have. 
Select a place away from shade if possible, for dahlias 
like lots of sunshine. Good drainage is also helpful. 
Dahlias do not need much fertilizer, a little animal 
manure or commercial fertilizer spread over the ground 
and spaded in as for all garden plants is essential and 
very small amounts spread around the dahlia from time 
to time is all that is needed. 
Cultivate frequently during the growing season and 
add a small handful of fertilizer in a ring around each 
plant from time to time, raking it in well, several inches 
from the stalk. Fill in the hole little by little as you cul- 
tivate. If the season is extremely wet, it will be well to 
“hill” the now large plants. If the weather is extremely 
dry a good heavy soaking once in ten days to two weeks 
will help, however, a light sprinkling is more harmful 
than good. 
It is well to drive a stake by each hole before plant- 
ing to support the dahlia when it is large and heavy. 
Insect pests are a nuisance with dahlias as with near- 
ly every other kind of flower plant, but they will often 
survive heavy infestations. Frequent spraying of poison 
for chewing insects will be helpful. Nicotine sprays for 
plant lice, although plant lice do not seem to hurt the 
plant much. 
Digging should be done after frosts have killed the 
plants to the ground. Use a heavy spading fork, shake 
off surplus earth, cut stem an inch or two from the clump 
using heavy pruning shears or other suitable tool. Do not 
dry the clump, but pack clumps tightly together, upside 
down in a box and store in a cool moist place. Do not let 
them freeze. 
