THE CULTURE OF DAHLIA AND GLADIOLUS
C. Gordon Milne,
Division of Horticulture
Dahlia and the gladiolus are grown for their blooms. Due to this fact, the home gardener and the commercial flower grower are interested in obtaining quality flowers. Adherence to the suggested cultural recommendations listed below should result in optimum growth arid bloom.

Dahlia Culture.
Flowers of the dahlia range from one-half inch in diameter to the size of a huge sunflower; in color from a black maroon to pure white, including many combinations of tints and shades. Flower groups include single, anemone, collarette, duplex, cactus, decorative, show, peony, pompom, and Tom Thumb.

Storage and Propagation
The roots are dug and the soil removed as. soon as the frost has killed the tops. They may be left to dry for a day before removing to a cool (40-45°F.), moist cellar. Roots may be packed in barrels of dry sawdust or sand or placed in boxes or bins provided that the humidity is fairly high in the cellar. Some growers store clumps or roots upside down so that crowns will drain off excess moisture to prevent rot.
The simplest method of propagation is by division of the fleshy roots. The buds or ’’eyes” appear on the stem at or near its junction with the fleshy roots. These buds develop into new shoots and must be preserved intact. For this reason, it is imperative that a portion of the stem be left with each division of the crown. The spring is the safest time for, root division. With a sharp knife, a cut is made into the stems, dividing them and leaving the eyes and roots intact. After division, the parts should be stored in dry sand, sawdust or peat moss and kept cool until planting time. If when ready to plant some of the "eyes" have sprouted, these sprouts should be cut back to one set of leaves, not torn off.
Propagation by cuttings or seeds is difficult and should be left to the breeding specialist.
There is an annual dahlia that is propagated best by seed. The seed is handled in a manner similar to the other annual flowering plants.
Soils and Planting
a clay loam is much better than a light sandy type, since in heay-
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics.
State of Indiana, Purdue University and the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating H. J. Reed, Director, Lafayette, Indiana Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914