GROWING DAHLIAS 
SUCCESSFULLY 

There is no magic wand to be used in growing 
good dahlias and no secrets that the Grower is 
holding back. It has often been said that dahlias 
will grow in any soil. This is nearly true but it is 
true that the better the soil the better your dahlias 
will be. It is necessary to spade or plow the soil 
as deeply as possible and any well rotted manure 
or compost material spread over the soil in late fall 
to remain during the winter months will add 
greatly to the soil structure when turned under 
in the spring. 
Dahlias should have all day sun if possible, but 
half day sun will be good providing it is the morn- 
ing sun. If in too much shade the stalks will be 
slim and weak and the flowers of a poor color 
and substance with very poor keeping quality. 
Plant your dahlia roots flat six inches deep in 
heavy soil and eight inches in light soil placing a 
strong stake at each root. Three feet apart for the 
large exhibition varieties and 18 inches for the 
miniatures and Poms. If you are crowded for 
room a dahlia root may be placed at each side of 
the stake, North and South. You get better exhi- 
bition blooms by running the rows North and 
South. 
Little or no water is needed till the plants are about 
10 or 12 inches high but keep the ground worked so that 
it does not cake at any time. If the weather gets very 
warm and the ground is drying out give them a real 
soaking to a depth of at least 8 inches, then cultivate the 
second day after. When the first buds appear it is good 
to give them a dressing of a well balanced fertilizer with 
a nitrogren content not over 3%. Use about ten pounds 
to a 50 ft. row working it into the soil along both sides 
of the row. 
When buds form they need plenty of water, this means 
a good soaking at least every 20 days. To secure the 
best blooms pinch out the two side buds from each 
cluster of buds leaving the center and stronger one to 
develop. This will give you longer stems and much 
larger blooms. 
Very few pests bother the dahlia. Spray well at first 
signs of thrip or aphis. We like the Red Arrow spray for 
