The best method of cutting for long-keeping blooms, is to | 
carry a bucket of cold water into the garden and plunge the 
stem of 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 from 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 containers for display, and 
will keep much longer than if any other method of preprara- 
tion 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. 
é 
3 
is BE he clump may be allowed to stand for a while to dry out 
< dirt, which may then be shaken off gently. Or a gentle 
J re ‘eam.of water may be used to wash the clumps. The stalk 
C “| uld then be cut off close to the clump, and it is then ready 
wa 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 some- 
times 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 va- 
rieties. 
Any special problems not covered will be gladly consid- 
ered on request, and all available information thereto will 
be given. 
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MILLER DAHLIA FARMS SEATTLE 88 
