placing in your vases or other containers 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 l:me 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. 
oe 
CLASSIFICATION—Large varieties of Dahlias are classified 
for exhibition as “A’”—those whose blooms grow 8 inches or more 
in diameter, and “B”—those whose blooms are more than 4 inches 
and less than 8 inches in diameter. MINIATURES are those under 
4 inches and are distinct from the POMPOMS in that the florets 
are of the same type as those of the large varieties. These varieties 
are divided into the descriptive sections as follows: the abbrevia- 
tions used in this catalog being: 
Formal Decorative—F. D. 
Informal Decorative—I. D. 
Semi-Cactus—S. C. 
Incurved Cactus—Inc. Cac. 
Straight Cactus—St. Cac. 
PEELE ELL LSC LLL LLL LRLLLLLILRLIA ALLL ALOLALIOIO OOAOA LOLOL OA, 
MILLER DAHLIA FARMS _ SEATTLE 88 
