allows long stems for cutting or exhibition, As Pompons and 
Miniatures are somewhat valued in inverse ratio to their size 
none of these should be disbudded, but the young plant may b« 
pinched out to make more blooms. 
There are a few insect pests which may infect your Dahlia:. 
depending on your locality. Aphis or other sucking insects, or 
leaf hoppers or other chewing insects. There are a number uf 
good sprays and dusts on the market, including the new DDT 
which may be used according to directions on the package. Your 
local feed.store or hardware dealer will help you select whica- 
ever is indicated by your local conditions. 
The ground around the Dahlia plants should be kept in a 
loose condition by frequent cultivation, deep at first and then 
shallower as the plant grows and the feed roots spread out, ana 
near the surface. If your summer is very hot, a mulch between 
the Dahlias of grass clippings, or other material, will help keep 
the ground cool and: avoid overheating the roots. During extreme 
heat it is advisableto pick off the buds and not allow blossoms 
to form, thus saving any possible dangerous wilting of the plant. 
When watering, after the buds have started to open, and not 
until then, it is better to give the ground a thorough soaking once 
a week or every ten days, than to sprinkle the surface every 
day. The moisture should reach down about a foot to be of the 
most value. 
Dahlia blooms should be cut either early in the morning be- 
fore the sun starts to dry them out, or late in the evening. Th 
best method of cutting for long keeping blooms, is to carry a 
bucket of cold water into the garden and plunge the stem oz 
the Dahlia into it as soon as it is cut from the bush. A knife 
should be used instead of scissors, as the object is to not press 
the stem shut, but rather leave it so that it will absorb water 
readily for the bloom. The cut flowers should then be placed 
in the cold water container, in a cool dark place, and away fron. 
any drafts, for several hours, or if cut in the evening, over night. 
After that they are ready for placing in your vases or other con- 
tainers for display, and will keep much longer than if any other 
method of preparation is used. Too much foliage left on the stem 
will greatly lessen the keeping quality of the bloom. 
After the first killing frost the Dahlia clumps should be dug 
and stored for the winter. If the sections where there is no frost, 
or where it comes very late in the year, the plants may be cut 
down any time and after allowing a few days for the sap to go 
down into the roots, the clumps may be dug and cared for the 
same as if they had been killed by frost. It is well to dig the 
dirt away from the clump and cut down with the spade all 
around it rather deep before lifting it out. This will cut the feed 
roots which may extend out as far as two feet from the stalk, 
and which might break some of the roots from the stalk if not 
cut. Any roots which are broken at the neck will probably not 
be any good the following spring. 
The clump may be allowed to stand for a while to dry out 
the dirt, which may then be shaken off gently. Or a gentle stream 
of water may be used to wash the clumps. The stalk should then 
be cut off close to the clump, and it is then ready to be divided 
or stored. 
A cool not too dry cellar is the best place for root storage, 
being sure it is frost proof. It does not need much below freezing 
to ruin Dahlia roots. Also, dry warm air will cause the roots to 
dry out and shrivel up, so that most of them will not grow in the 
spring. 
In dividing the clumps, all that is necessary is to have an 
eye for each root saved, and these eyes are plainly visible at the 
time of digging, if one wishes to divide them then. This will do 
away with the possibility of stem rot, which sometimes spoils the 
entire clumps. Cut surfaces may be dusted or dipped in powdered 
lime or sulphur and the roots packed in boxes of fine sawdust, 
or even dry :dirt. The name of the variety may be written on 
the root with an indelible pencil, moistening the surface so the 
writing will be permanent. This avoids the possibility of lost 
tags and mixed-up varieties. 
Any special problems not covered will be gladly considered 
on request, and all available information thereto will be given, 
* 
RIE nan nanan ytata yeas 
MILLER DAHLIA FARMS SEATTLE 88 
