. The Dahlia : a practical treatise on its habits, characteristics, cultivation and history. Dahlias; Compositae. THE DAHLIA. 17. CHAPTER III. PROPAGATION. HERE are four methods by which Dahlias are propagated ; by cuttings, division of roots, and bj- grafting to perpetuate ex- isting kinds, and by seeds to produce new varieties. Division of Roots.—This is the easiest and most satisfac- tory to amateurs, and is so simple as to scarcely need descrip- tion. As the eyes are not on the individual tubers but on the crown to which the tubers are attached, care must be taken that each division has at
. The Dahlia : a practical treatise on its habits, characteristics, cultivation and history. Dahlias; Compositae. THE DAHLIA. 17. CHAPTER III. PROPAGATION. HERE are four methods by which Dahlias are propagated ; by cuttings, division of roots, and bj- grafting to perpetuate ex- isting kinds, and by seeds to produce new varieties. Division of Roots.—This is the easiest and most satisfac- tory to amateurs, and is so simple as to scarcely need descrip- tion. As the eyes are not on the individual tubers but on the crown to which the tubers are attached, care must be taken that each division has at least one eye. It is therefore best to start the eyes by placing the roots in a warm, moist place a short time before dividing. The roots are sometimes placed in a hot-bed, and the shoots grown to con- siderable size, then divided and set out as plants ; but as this plan has many drawbacks, I would not advise it. By Cutti7igs.—This method is used mainly by commercial growers, and though the amateur may easily propagate plants successfully, the atfention a few cuttings would require would be so great that it would be cheaper to bu}' the plants. However, as it may be of interest to some, I will describe how Dahlias are propagated by this method on commercial places. The roots are planted closely in benches in the greenhouse early in January, and cut- tings are made from the young shoots as fast as they 'brni the third or fourth set of leaves. These cuttings are carefully trimmed and placed in pure sand in the propagating bench, using a dibble, and putting the cuttings in rows two or three inches apart and about a half inch between the cuttings. The propagating bench is made by running a flue, hot water or .steam pipes be- neath an ordinary bench, and boarding up the sides to confine the heat. Al- though there may be a difference of opinion among propagators, yet a bottom or sand heat of 65 degrees, with the temperature of the from 5 to 10 degrees less, will give the b
Size: 1411px × 1771px
Photo credit: © Central Historic Books / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorpeacockl, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookyear1896
