The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-03-16
ADVICE ON DAHLIA CULTURE.
Experiences OF an Expert Will Prove
Helpful to Growers of This Beauti-
full FlOWer
BY Eben f.. ReXfOrd.

The present popularity of the dahlia
brings many inquiries regarding the
culture of the plant, also many state
ments of failure in the past from those
who have not studied it's special re-
duiretnents and have given it only
ordinary culture. Perhaps my per-
sonal experience with this charming
flower may leIp others to achieve sue
cess with it.
We used to think il impossible
to grow the dahiia st the north unless
we started its roots into growth very
early in the season. We planted them
in pots and boxes generally in late
March. or early in April, and by the
time"the weather was warm enough
to warrant us in putting the plants
into the ground hey were tall, veal
things that suffered 50 much from
transplanting that they took Il month
Oh two to recover in. The consequence
was they were late in coming into
bloom. In fact. few of them developed
flowers before frostS We're due, and
as the plant is very sensitive to cold
we generally failed to get a good crop
of W. for our early started plants,
and most persons who had expert
mentad along this line gave up trying
to grow dahlias, under the impression
that our season was not long enough
to. bring them to maturity.
- WO N0ttiS ago t11c SI)I11S was very
backward in this locality, and the
ground was wet and cold until the
first of June. ] had procured a fine
collection Of dahlia tubers. but had
not thought it advisable to start them
into growth in pots, because of past
experience with early-started plants.
The tubers were spread on a shelf in
the greenhouse when received and
lay there through the month of May,
waiting for warm weather. The buds
o~r."eyeS' of them Swelled, and by tht
first Of June sprouts were beginning
to grow. On the first day of june ]
planted them in the garden. not dar
ing to wait longer. ] spaded up the
ground to the deNth of at least a foot
and q half and manur it very heaV-
ily. using old, thoroughly rotted COW
manure This ] worked into the soil
which was made as mellow as posi-
BILE. The tubers were planted with
their heads about four inches below
the surface. A little depression was
left in the center of he soil. where
the tuber was. and this was not filled
with earth until the sprout had ap-
peared and made q growth OF four OF
five inches. Stakes were set by each
plant at planting time and each stake
bore the name of the varieY it was tc
furnish support for. Stalking. let me
say right here, is very important, be-
cause the stalks OF the dahIa are SC
extremely brittle that a, strong wind
or a heavy rain will often break the
plants down if they are not Well TIED
mp. If supports are put in place before
new roots are sent out no harm Is
done by driving them into the ground
The stalk should be tied to the stakes
with strips Of cloth. rather thar
strings, as the latter often cut into The
soft wood. Tie the stalk to the stake
for every foot Of its growth. If thes
stakes are painted q dull green the,
will not be noticeable.
Care was taken to keep the sol
quite moist after our dry spell" cam
on. ii the plants were kept forgin.
steadily and rapidly ahead. h re
suit was that we lac flowers from
them by the middle Of August, and a
we covered the plants with sheet
when September frosts came we ha'
our best crop Of Gloom late in tn
season. when it was raest appreciated
7 oct Inar ranp4tpd the CXDGrlmo1l