New Britain herald., 1916-05-10
How To crow Dahlias.

(Eben E. Rexford in The Wilkesbarre
 Record.)
 For many years the dahlia has been one of our most popular flowers, but there has been much complaint of failure in obtaining a full crop of blos- soms before early fall frosts injure the plants. The fact is, we have, until lately, only half understood tho re- quirements of the plant, and we have given it a treatment that was not cal culated to insure the best results.
 We have thought it necessary to start the roots into growth in the house in early spring. and the result almost invariably has been a weak growth which stunted the plants when they were transferred to the ground: as they lacked the stamina they needed in adjusting themselves to the change from indoor to outdoor conditions. The consequence was that they were so backward in development that frosts generally injured them before they had perfected the first crop of flowers.
 We have learned it is not necessary to start this plant into growth be- fore putting the roots into the ground. If we wait until the weather IS settled and the ground warm, and plant our dahlias then in a rich soil they start into immediate growth, and so stead fly ahead and give us a generous num- Der of fine blossoms long before the plants started in the old way ever did. I have set out tubers in the latter part of May, and had flowers from them late in July and from that time on to the coming of frost, thus mak- Ing it possible to secure at least two months of bloom.
 It is necessary that the ground in which we plant the dahlia should be rich, for a strong, steady growth is needed in order to obtain the best re- sults In a soil of only moderate rich ness growth will be slow, and develop ment will come too late in the season to be satisfactory.
 Give it a soil we'll supplied with plant food and see that it has so much water that it's roots are alWaTs moist. Support it well. to prevent it being broken down by sudden winds heavy storms, and you will find it one of the most satisfactory of all garden plants.
 There are several distinct classes of this flower. The "show' dahha is large, double flower, rich in color and effective in garden decoration. The decorative" type has semi double
  I believe, the most satisfactory variety 1 for general use.
 The "singles'' have but one row of broad petals and are shoWy. The "cac- tus'' type has petals twisted and curled in such fastastic manner that they give one the impression of flowers gone crazy. The "pompones' are minia- ture "show' dahlias, so dwarf in habit that they are used as bedders. The same rich wide range of color runs through all the members of the fam fly, from purest white to darkest scar let, crimson, purple and yellow, with intermediate shades of pink, cherry, delicate rose and dainty cream-surelT the most exacting taste can be suited so far as color is concerned
 There are many varieties in which these Colors are combined in such a way as to make the flowers wonder fully striking the petals of dark colors being tipped with white, or vice versa and others striped and blotched with strongly contrasting colors. The decorative" sorts and the gleS" are excellent for cutting.