Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-27
Success with the DahIias.


The dahlia is a great favorite with
us among the dubious flowers and al
though we have in some seasons been
quite disappointed in results obtained,
yet, taken all-in-all in the twenty-five
or thirty years since we first began
their culture, no other variety of flow
ers, has, think, given us more pleas
ure and satisfaction in the aggregate.
And having during that time been con-
stantly on the alert for any improve
ments in methods of treatment, either
in care of the bulbs or of their culture,
l may be able to make some sugges-
tions that will be useful at least to
the beginner in dahlia culture.
Our greatest disappointment or lack
of success with these flowers has come
from the ravages Of the dahlia fly, an
insect that by stinging them causes the
or about that time. We have tried to
find a remedy for this trouble, but can
not say that we have been entirely
successful in doing to. Still, we have
found this, and by following along the
line suggested in its application, are
satisfied that we have gained consider
ably We have observed that when
ever the dahlias were planted near
the door or walk where we were con-
tinually passing close to them, they
were more exempt from the attacks OF
these insects and blossomed much more
freely than when grown in more Sc
cluded places. Hence we have adopted
the practice latterly SO far as possible,
of planting our dahlias near the walks
that are most used and we think we
gain a decided advantage by so doing.
Moreover we find. when planted close
to the side of the house, that there
seems to be less destruction Of the
buds, or at least they have bloomed
more freely, the partial shade, if on
the north or west side, in the heat OF
the day, being an advantage to their
towering qualities.
Now as to treatment of the bulbs
during winter. We formerly had con-
siderable trouble, particularly with the
more choice sorts, in keeping them
through the winter, as from some cause
or other, when put away in the cellar
without extra care, they would either
wither and shriycl up, or else mold and
decay so that large proportion of the
more valuable varieties failed to win
ter over alive. After considerable ex-
perimenting along this line, we have
found that by taking up the bulbs as
soon as killed down by frost if left
to stand in the ground after stalks are
killed down they are apt to sprout up
again from the roots, which weakens
the plants and injuries their keeping
qualities) and allowing them to dry in
the sun and wind a few hours, packing
them in boxes of dry earth or sand, and
placing in an upper room where there
is no danger of frost in winter, they
will come through in almost perfect
. condition.
In the preparation of land in spring
for planting out our dahlias, we add
generous supply of fertilizing material
in the form OF well-decayed compost,
or something of that nature, and if the
soil is heavy, add also to it a goodly
proportion Of sand to tighten it up,
spading deep and pulverizing finely.
We usually start the plants by setting
the bulbs in shallow DoXes, filled with
earth to cover well the crown of plants,
about April /, and setting in moder-
ately warm place, but not sufficiently
so to force them rapidly.
When danger from frost Is past
(Which here in Delaware county, N. Y,
is usually near the end of May or about
June 1st) divide and plant out leaving
only one or two strong sprouts to each,
and afterward give throughout the sea-
son bountiful supply of water, as the
dahlia is plant requiring great deal
of moisture for best results in flower
ing.
prevent the plants being broken off
by the strong winds usually prevalent
in summer in our climate, for while the
dahlia stalks are quite large and ap-
parently quite strong, they are very
brittle and break down easily; SO it
will be found necessary to set stalks, to
which they may be tied from time to
time, as they increase in growth. AS
the taller-growing sorts often reach a
height of six or seven feet, or more
these stakes should be of considerable
length and quite strong.-E. ]. Brown
ell, in The Country Gentleman.
Large Exports of American Cheese.
America is said to be the largest