Cultural Directions 
For the healthy growth and the lovely blooms your Dahlia 
planting should be expected to produce, just a few simple re- 
quirements are demanded. These are easy to understand and 
follow when we consider the manner in which the Dahlia 
plant grows. 
The root division which we plant has an eye near or on the 
part of the stalk which forms the top of the root. This eye con- 
tains the really important part of the entire root, and from it 
a stalk and feed roots grow to form the Dahlia plant. The rest 
of the root is merely a dinner basket to supply the necessary 
nourishment for starting the new plant. As soon as the feed 
roots, very fine at first, reach the point where they start to 
supply enough plant food to enable the newly-formed leaves 
above ground to begin work, the original root has performed 
its purpose, and may as well be disregarded. In proof of this, 
the root you plant may be cut in half or a still smaller portion 
be planted with a resultant vigorous plant, providing the con- 
ditions of soil and moisture, etc., are made right. 
Thus the new plant needs nothing in the way of fertilizer 
or irrigation until the new feed roots are established. And the 
more numerous and faster-growing these feed roots, the 
stronger the plant and the better crop of roots for the next 
year. Any fertilizer should for this reason, not be placed in 
the hole in which the root is planted, but spread over the en- 
tire plot, as the new roots will cover in most cases the entire 
space allotted to your Dahlias. 
Some of these new roots will thicken and begin to store up 
starch and other food elements, forming the new crop of 
storage roots. It is when these are growing and the buds on 
the plant are beginning to open that plenty of plant food and 
water are necessary. It is known that one bloom in the forma- 
tion requires many times the water and food that is needed 
for the foliage and stalk growth. 
It is clear anything which tends to interfere with the 
growth of these new feed roots will stunt the growth of the 
plant, so an over-supply of water at the start, or the presence 
of rotting vegetation or manure, anything which will cause 
these roots to rot before they reach a healthy growth, is to 
be avoided. Plenty of room is needed for root development 
and space between plants should be enough for good ventila- 
tion to avoid mildew of the foliage. 
With an understanding of these requirements, we can plan 
the best way to plant and care for the Dahlias. 
The soil should be loose and well drained. Spading deeply 
as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring is a neces- 
sary part of preparation: On heavy clay soil some sort of 
humus should be worked in ,and some sand or fine coal ashes. 
If new clay, a dressing of agricultural lime raked in the sur- 
face after spading will be of advantage. If the ground has 
been planted to a root crop the year before an application of 
bone meal and potash should be made, and this worked into 
the surface before planting. About 5 pounds of bone meal and 
BEEP PPP PEPPER ALA AL AGA ALAL ALLA ALLIAGE. 
MILLER DAHLIA FARMS SEATTLE 88 
