Cultural eau 
For the healthy growth and the lovely blooms your Dahlia 
planting should be expected to produce, just a few simple 
requirements 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 
contains 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 conditions 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 
entire 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 forming 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 for- 
mation 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- 
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MILLER DAHLIA FARMS SEATTLE 88 
