inches. Cultivate. Do not let the plants go dry, for, due to the large 
leaves, there is much transpiration and the plant will have to draw 
from the tuber. 
PESTS. Every week dust with a mixture of 5% DDT and sulphur. 
This will control nearly everything except aphis and these can be 
controlled with a Nicotine spray. Watch for cutworms., They hide 
just under the soil during the day and at night they come out and 
cause their exasperating damage. 
DISBUDDING. When the plant is a foot high, count up from the 
ground, three sets of leaves. Slightly above this third set, steel 
yourself and pinch out the beautiful top of the plant. From each 
set of leaves you will find after a few days, two New vigorous side 
shoots; in all, six shoots. Let these shoots grow. When flower buds 
appear, and you can get your finger in, break off all side buds so 
that there is only one bud to each of the six main shoots. Just below 
the buds, break out all new side shoots, all the way down the six 
main stalks, until you come to the bottom two shoots. Leave these, 
they will form your Next set of blooms. First you will have six 
blooms, cut these just above the two remaining side shoots so 
thirty days later you will have twelve blooms, and the next set 
having twenty-four, etc. Disbudding is, very important if you wish 
a low stocky plant and very large blooms. 
FEEDING. Dahlias are heavy feeders and it is necessary to feed 
them regularly — about every three weeks. Steer manure is all 
right to use provided it is well decayed or composted for a year. 
Then use only as a mulch. A potato fertilizer such as 2-10-10 is the 
best. As the buds appear, apply this dressing around the drip line 
of the plant, about a handful, not closer than six inches to the main 
stalk. Scratch this into the soil and water. When buds show color, 
scratch in a teaspoon full of blood meal around the plant. Use 
sparingly, for blood meal has very much Nitrogen and you might 
weaken the bush by too rapid growth. 
CUT FLOWERS Cut blooms late in the afternoon. Cut just above 
the last set of leaves next to the main stalk. Take off a suitable 
amount of foliage and plurge it into cool water. Leave the flowers 
out in the open all night, being careful that the morning sun will 
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