Evening star., 1948-03-28
Dahlias-For Fun and Prizes
Fascinating Hobby Can Be as Simple
Or as Complicated as One Desires
By w. H. Younomon

Younemon
using soft twine or strips Of rags
rather than a small hard string.
Such q string is likely to cut the
dahlia stalk.
Whether you grow the small
flowered or the large ones, it Is
desirable to pinch out the center of
the plant when 1t is u to Is inches
high. This is to stimulate branch
ing. In this way from two to six
branches will be started. II you
are growing for a flower show, the
laterals that appear on the branches
will be removed. If you wish to
have ample flowers to cut they are
left to develop.
Terminal Bud Retained.
The gardener preparing for the
flower show will not only remove the
laterals but very likely will re-
move two out of the three buds
that appear at the end of each
branch. This leaves only the term
inal bud. Unless one has space for
a dozen or 30 dahlia plants it will
pay to allow the laterals to grow so
as to insure a number of blooms
for indoor and decorative use. Even
where this Is done, 1t will pay to
remove at least one of the side
buds, If not both, 50 as to have larger
flowers and to avoid having them
jammed together. One bloom to a
stem is usually most attractive.
Dahlia feeding is as varied rs is
that practiced by rose growers. One
can apply wood ashes and fertilizer
as top dressing in midsummer and
again a month before the flower
show. or the home gardener may be
satisfied with the results to be
gotten from planting them in a
we'll fertilized hole. Experience
will soon show which method will
meet the individuals needs.
Regardless of the method of feed
ing the dahlias, all should be kept
well cultivated, and watered when
ever necessary. Early cultivation
may be fairly deep-as much as 2
inches. After the middle of July
cultivation should be rather shall
low. not more than an inch deep
Ample water is needed for good
growth and most dahlia fans make
shallow basins around each plant,
filling them at least once, usually
twice, at each watering. In this
way the dafrlia plants need not be
watered more often than once a
week even in prolonged periods of
dry weather.
Insect Dust or Spray.
Most insects that trouble the
growing plants may be controlled
through the use of DDT or HETP.
This combination applied either as
a dust or spray seemed very effective
during the 1947 season, controlling
the red spider, borer and other
pests.
Dahlias will grow and flower until
killed by frost. AS soon as the plants
are killed the stalks should be cut
of near the ground. The tubers
need not be dug until just before
freezing weather is expected. In
most cases they should not be dug
for at least week after the tops
have been removed. This period is
desirable for the tubers to mature,
1t improves their storing qualities.
Any attempt to list suitable va
rieties for each color and class
would involve so many variety
names as to be overwhelming. The
Mems Garden Club of Montgomery
County has such a list, three pages
long, and 1t only gives two or three
varieties in each color of each class.
For the dahlia fancier their list is
invaluable.
For the home gardener seeking
half dozen fairly good, dependable
varieties the following are suggested
(key to identifying lettering at end)
Jsrss JsIs.y deseTsd S.sntsLs,DE' !gDfE.:
suTpIe his.@Purgle; +,
fss5Sais Rsntaefz Hgsyfnss sesftsnssLscoor, 81 3D.
sarett's Pink FIaminso@Pink, c.
Sne smallsT ksttsWSsf. hoysrsd types: gpm
little little EdithtIYsllow II and red, pom.
Bishop Of tlandaf-Red. pf.
RaptureSYeiiowi an and pink, Id.
ME-. Ma ksrsteHmLsyendss a sEm;oLss. spa red
or Formai al Ve decopativ., ID informal fo deco
tive. cactus, sc semicactus, pf peony flow
cred. pom pompon. single.