THE DAHLIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20592, 15 December 1928, Page 3

THE DAHLIA.

A BUSY MAN’S FLOWER. Some flowers, like the orchid, require a conservatory in which to develop their aristocratic blossoms. The dahlia requires merely a home garden in which to flaunt its lovely colours. In no place are dahlias seen to better advantage than when clustered about a low, rambling farmhouse or in some suburban garden. Like the geranium, they are essentially a home flower, and while we see unusualh’ fine specimens at the flower shows, the ones we see nodding in friendly fashion above some garden

gate are the ones we love the most. This flower, of humble origin, to-day rivals the chrysanthemum in beauty, and is just as easily raised. While dahlias do well in any sunny location, the ideal place is one with an open situation to the morning sun, some shade at noontime, and full sunshine from 3 o’clock in the afternoon until sundown. Never crowd the plants, as they must have a free circulation of air at all times.

As a class dahlias are not particular about soil, for while they seem to do best in a. light sandy loam soil, yet they do splendidly in all kinds of soil from pure sand to heaviest clay, and in the stoniest of gravel soil. All they require is the proper food, water, _ and thorough cultivation. Most authorities, however, agree that a good, rich garden loam rich in humus suits them best.

Dahlias ore gross feeders. Any kind of manure or fertiliser that is available may be converted into food. However, most growers agree that bone meal is the best fertiliser for dahlias, Lo matter what variety you may be growing. One hundred pounds to 300 square feet is supposed to be tie proper proportion in which to distribute this material.- When you have only a few plants it may seem easier to apply two cupfuls to each plant. This should be applied as a topdressing ■ between the plants, care being taken that this will not *omc in direct contact with the feeding roots. So do not cultivate immediately after distributing the fertiliser. Ninety per cent, of the weight of a dahlia plant is water; therefore the stems are very brittle., A strong wind or heavy shower is apt to break them off close to the roots. -In order to avoid such a mishap it pays to stake flu. plants early in the season. At least twice a week,- and as soon after rain as you can get into the garden, the surface of the soil around the plants must bo broken up and stirred. This permits the admission of air to the soil, and also helps in the conservation of moisture. A garden that is well cultivated requires only a small portion of the amount of water that the same area wculd require were it not cultivated. When the roots are close o the surface, cultivation can be dispensed, with by the) application of a mulch jh the form of lawn clippings or peat moss. This mulch should be about two inches deep. Apply it in such a manner that every inch of the soil is covered.

While the plants are small they do not require as much water as they do i when they have developed two-thirds of their growth. How much water your plants will demand will depend on where you have planted them. If they are scattered through the shrubbery border where alien roots will have an opportunity to absorb the moisture it will be necessary to water often and thiroughly; in fact, it will be better to water every day. On the other hand, if they are planted in an open plo* free from roots of trees or strong-growing shrubbery you may find that they will get along very well with only one application o£ water a week and only one stirring of the soil. Dahlias oloom only on soft wood, so do not allow the growth to become checked. Some growers apply' a little soot to the soil of their dahlia patch, feeling that it will add materially in giving a darker green to the leaves and a more vivid colour to the flowers. This should never be applied to white or lavender varieties as it may slightly spoil their colouring. Early morning is the best time to cut dahlias. Aim to do this rnfore the, sun his had an opportunity to evaporate any of the moisture from the foliage or stems. Cut the stems slantwise and as long as possible Place the plants in water and set them in a dark, cool place for a few horn's; this will improve their keeping qualities. Never cut- the flowers too young ; wait until they are fully developed before removing them from the plant. Do not allow the individual flower to fade on the plant unless you are expecting to save the seed from a certain blossom.

Exhibition flowers are obtained by disbudding. In disbudding they remove all but a single bud from each branch; thus the strength that would otherwise go to several flowers make up the one large bloom desired for exhibition. In the home garden it is a matter of taste whether it shall be one large bloom or several that are the equivalent. , Should you have a vase of cut dahlias whose beauty you would like to prolong, immerse the stems for a few minutes in hot, water. After removing them from the hot water, place them in fresh, cool water and set the container for a few hours in a dark, cool place. There are no flowers that yield larger dividends than do dahlias. While they do not require , much care the attention you give them should be regular. The following ‘quotation from the House and Garden expresses the possi. ’ities of this flower: “The dahlia the busy man's flower—robust, reliable, repaying a small amount of care with wealth of bloom at a season when the rest of the garden too often is at tag-ends.” No one with even a few feet of ground at his disposal need be without dahlias. They are so adaptable and so radiant.—Christian Science Monitor.