Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-25
THE DAHLIA GARDEN

Many OF the local home gardeners
are now preparing to plant their dahlia
roots, realizing that the end OF May
Is an ideal time for planting with ref
erence to the late Autumn bloom. Early
planted dahlias thrive but bear their
best crop of blooms in August and early
September. which are usually too hot
and dry for the best development OF
this plant. In fact, the dahlia is very
much like the Irish potato IN all OF Its
requirements, cool storage Of roots and
cool, moist growing conditions. Late
planted dahlias make their burst OF
growth with the advent of cool Autumn
weather. Length of day also figures
heavily in dahlia growing. The plants
blooming best when days drop below
IL hours in length.
Todays illustrations. taken from Far
nner's Bulletin, No. 1870, "Dahlias for
the Home" by B. Y. Morrison, show
quite effectively how the root should be
divided into its component parts. No
matter how much material one has
available, it does not pay to plant whole
clumps. A clump of roots will produce
several stalks In one place with the re-
suit that none gets adequate nutrition
or water. One author states that ne
would as soon think Of planting whole
ear of corn in single hill as to plant a
whole clump of dahlia roots. put the
comparison Is, Of course, overdrawn.
The size problem is not altogether in
volved with oversizes. some oanIa
dealers have a faculty for dividing ex-
pensive roots into such small sections
that these have a difficult time to get
established. Such small planting ma
terial is even less desirable than the
large clump because one can cut out
extra stalks but cannot add one.
Dahlias propagate readily from cut.
tings of the new shoots and this metnoo
Is often used by nurserymen 10 increase
new or rare varieties.
Some seedsmen offer true dahlia seed,
which is handled much in the same
way one would grow tomato plants.
Such seed does not produce definite
colors or forms, but Is, for this reason,
ali the more interesting to some gar
deners who like to deal with the mys-
terry of the unknown.
Dahlias are not at all fussy as to
SOIL but do not enjoy shade nor drought
during the period of Towering. Any
normally we'll cared for garden soil will
produce good dahlias. Over stimulation
with fertilizers will result in foliage al
expense of flowers, but in most Of the
local gardens over fertility Is not q
serious problem because the soil itself
Is so lacking in nutrients.
In the bulletin above cited, Mr.. Nor
fisun suggests that roots be set in rows
3 to 4 feet apart and as far apart IN
the rows as desired. Crowding the
plants is not desirable. A covering OF
3 or a inches of soil over the root is
adequate and 1t Is just as well that the
supporting stakes be put in place at
planting time In order to carry the
names Of the variety and also that new
roots may not be injured when the
stake is being driven.
Varieties are quite as numerous as
the trees of the forest and 1t would be
useless to suggest . list since people,
tastes differ 80 much. But it Is safe to
state that high price Is no certain index
10 high merit. Some Of the older and
reasonably priced kinds are stu very
fine.