The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-02

around the stalks (not to touch) after
the bloom buds have formed. 1t
makes the flowers larger. but even for
this I believe ! prefer bone meal, we'll
hoed in. Then turn on the sprinkler.
Deep breaking of the soil is the most
important operation in dahlia culture.
whether by spade. plough or mattock,
and the mex is to keep the top soil
stirred and loose.
l had "a splendid bed OF white and
yellow pompon dahlias planted last
year where there had been an old four
foot pit filed in the fall before with
leaf mould and grass sod. They
bloomed continuously right on through
the longest dry spell we have had in
years and showed no signs Of
failure. though they were not watered.
Just kept the top soil stirred and loose.
This year I want to try some F:xhi.
bition Cactus dahlias in this bed. First
row will be John Riding. dark scarlet.
2ta feet high. Second row. Richard
Fox. pale yellow, 8 feet. Third row
against the fence and tied TO it,. Mrs.
Charles wyatt. satiny white, 4 feet. I
won't have much stalking to do in this
'NNhs h't ~ hteA '" u 'hththh
up fine anyway and the third one is
tied to "a low fence. These varieties
have bloomed for me three years and
have never failed. 20 I nay expect a
bed that will excel the Gamma beds.
l may change my notion and plant the
bed all one color. John Riding. for In
stance. There is a long. high wire
fence between the lawn and the field
that l make INTO a magnificent hedge
every year. l have a nan break the
ground az deep as possible with spade
or mattock. digging out holes two
feet deep TO ill in with well rotted
(for these must grow tall).
mixed with good garden soil, leaf
mould. sand or leached woo ashes.
Last year I had Mrs. Roosevelt tpink)
planted on one side m Grand Duke
Alexis twhite. pushed ~lavender) on
the other. Every branch was sup
ported by the fence They grew to-
gether over top of fence and bloomed
splendidly. This year I think l will
plant the hedge in big red d~ecoratives.
lie Giants. Mammoths. Sour. Dou-
rons, Paul Davids and Papa Char
NETS. a hedge not S o tai could be
made of W. w. Rawson lavender and
white) and Delice tpink), or Yellow
Collosse and Mrs. Perrin twhite).
Where one wants dahlias for cut
flowers and plenty of them. have some
deep burrows run Oh feet apar across
the vegetable garden. Lay the bulbs
down fiat PIG feet apart and cover
4 inches deep. When four leaves have
developed pinch out the uniformed top
aud f,,,r 1ru,,atas uriI start from, this
axil of each leaf. Hoe the soil up &c
these branches and they will be self.
supporting. another way is to lie,
one stalk to each bulb grow up three
or four feet tall and then bend then
all ovcr one way Town on the ground
They will grow up at ends n bloom
Just as we'll hut III need no stalking
This retards the blooming only a shor'
time. June | is the best time to plan
dahlias. Some people plant too soo'
and they get dwarfed and stunted will
the cold rains and cold winds. Dab
} las have to make "A certain growth
before blooming. but II they rave goo,
soil. good cultivation. plenty of sun
] shine and do not suffer for water the!
should bloom in six weeks from plant
ing. These are a few that I have sue
Cecdcd in growing as tub or box plants
Olympic ,rcdl, Golden WAY" yellow,
Mrs. Henry Eandal Cpink) and Snow
den ,whitcD. They are dwarf in hihs'
re- hut ~" flowers are very large an
beautiful. Use hoNei or tubs that wi
hold one-half hushel or more. HAY
good drainage. extra good; use goo
garden loan with some To kee'
II loose. water just enough To kee
the soil .. little moist until plant is up
then give "A little more and "A it'll
more until flowers begin to open
then give them water every day. lou
see that the drainage IL open an
water does not stand in box. One ca
use small hits of nitrate of soda i
the boxes at this time.