Disbudding and Disbranching—To get large flowers on 
long stems it is very necessary to disbud and disbranch. 
When plants come up leave only one stalk. After three 
sets of leaves appear, pinch out the crown or center. In 
a short time a top pair of laterals will make themselves 
evident which eventually will be a branch of the dahlia 
bush. When the buds appear, leave only one of the three 
buds that usually come in a cluster, pinching out the side 
two. New branches will appear in the form of laterals 
between the leaves and the stalk. These should also be 
pinched out and it is well to pinch out all laterals below the 
remaining bud except the two nearest the main stalk. This 
will keep your plant low and bushy and you will have many 
flowers on long stems from branches below which will 
develop rapidly. 
Fertilization — About the 15th of July give each dahlia a 
handful of potatoe fertilizer (4-8-8). Repeat this same ap- 
plication about Aug. 5. Again repeat this same application 
when the buds appear about Aug. 20. No further fertilizing 
is required after this. 
Cut Flowers — Dahlias should be cut in the early morning 
or in the evening after sundown. After flowers are cut 
dip stems into hot water (about boiling) for one or two 
minutes. Then place in deep cold water in a cellar for a 
few hours to freshen. Flowers then may be ready to ship 
by packing in strong corrugated boxes, laid out in florists 
tissue paper. It might be well to fold up newspapers to 
act as a pillow for the large blooms to rest on in order to 
avoid bruising. 
Storage — After the black frost has killed the dahlias, cut 
the tops at the ground ard dig them carefully with a good 
fork, being careful not to strain the necks of the roots. 
Cut stalk with 2 inches of crown and allow clumps to 
dry out in the sun three or four hours before placing into 
barrels or boxes. Suggest that clumps be placed in in- 
verted position while drying, in order that water in stems 
will drain out. It is well to allow soil to cling to clumps 
to prevent root necks from breaking and excessive drying 
of tubers. A good potato cellar is very desirable as a 
storage bin for dahlias. If this is not available, keep them 
as far as possible from the heater and in a space where 
the temperature will not go below 40 degrees nor above 55 
degrees. 
Preparing Soil for Next Year — After roots have been dug 
spade the garden and plant winter rye. If your soil has a 
tendency to be acid would broadcast lime stone over it. 
The spreading of cow manure over the winter rye will also 
be very beneficial. Turn rye over just before it goes into 
sety which in this climate is usually about the first week 
in May. 
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