This article is adapted from a dahlia catalog published in 1924 by Charlton Burgess Bolles Dahlias of Medea, Pennsylvania.
Although the original work is in the public domain, this article has been edited for the modern reader and may contain new material.
This version is Copyright © 2024 by Steve K. Lloyd and may not be reproduced without permission.
Editor’s note: This article discusses gardening techniques which were commonly recommended at the time of original publication. Please note that some of these may no longer be considered best practices for dahlia growers. While this article contains some excellent information, please remember that it was written more than 100 years ago. Consult modern guides before relying on the techniques discussed here.
Dahlia Pot Tubers and Pot-Roots
Announcement for 1924
For 1924 I offer Seeds, entire field grown clumps, and Pot Roots of Exhibition Dahlias. If you have received the 1922-23 Order Sheet it has been sent to show the colors of the dahlias offered in field clumps, and for your convenience in ordering clumps.
Except for those dahlias that are offered in clumps, all stocks have been practically sold out to visitors personally coming to my 6-½ acres of dahlias this past summer. These field-given orders have been reserved in storage and will be filled before planting time.
I can still supply single tubers from limited stocks, Attraction, Dream, F. W. Fellows, Golden West Cactus, Kaiif, Madam Butterfly, Mrs. Edna Spencer, and Mrs. Warnear, but no others.
Dahlia Clumps for Price of Single Tubers
I have a surplus of dahlias (2300 plants of Jack Rose for example; 1300 Crown of Gold; 1400 Minnie McCullough, and so on), and offer, subject to sale, entire field clumps “as dug” cash with order, at the price of single tubers. “As dug” means the buyer has the risk of some broken necks, though great care is exercised in digging.
All tubers F. O. B. here, buyer paying express or freight charges. An extra charge of 35c will be made for packing of orders under $3.00. Indicate second, and even third, choices for substitutes, if possible, in case any sort is sold out. No substitution unless permission is given.
Orders must be placed immediately to avoid disappointment in the case of some varieties. Will send C. O. D. if desired, in which case will mail advance notice as to time shipment leaves here. Any cash order, large or small, stored over winter for 50c additional.
Club with your neighbors, such orders tagged separately, but sent to one address. This is an exceptional opportunity to secure planting stocks for business or for mass planting. Each clump should afford the buyer, when divided by him, 4 to 6 plantable tubers.
A few dozen clumps of Libelle, a beautiful, low growing purple cactus, are left, 20c per clump. Indicate a second choice, for it will soon be sold out. I also have 1000 clumps of dahlias, produced by a nearby grower, who lost his field tags. Excellent garden sorts, retail price per single tuber ranging from 15c to 50c. Not labeled, mixed, just as they come from the bin, 10c per large clump.
If your express or freight is different from your post office, be sure to clearly state in your order. Additional copies of this list furnished, and sent to any person who might find this offer to their advantage. Please send me addresses of such.
Pot Grown Dahlia Tubers
“Pot Roots” are little tubers that have grown from cuttings under glass.
Plant in the open garden at the usual time of planting ordinary “field grown” tubers and plant just as deeply (six to seven inches), but only covered three inches. Fill in the furrow as the plant grows.
These “pot tubers” become sturdy dahlia plants that produce fine blooms and fine clumps of field grown roots the first season.
The cost of stocking one’s garden with superior “New Creations” of modern dahlias is reduced three tubers compared to the usual way.
These little tubers are about the size of olives when they come to you, and by dividing them, small as they are, it is often possible to obtain three plants, which again reduces three-fold the cost.
As one of my customers said: One of the pot roots consisted of three tubers, each as big as an olive, the one stem being about as large as a matchstick.
I started the tiny clump in a flower pot of good earth, and three sprouts came up. I then turned the clump out of the pot and dissected it with a sharp knife.
I obtained three divisions, which I potted, and later transplanted into my garden, where they became three splendid plants, each with superb, enormous flowers, and in the autumn each plant had a clump of excellent tubers.
"And this was a dahlia of the latest New Creation sort, which would have cost me $5.00 per single tuber, if I had bought field grown tubers the usual way."
For next spring’s planting I offer strong, vigorous “pot roots” of some of the best modern dahlias, warranted true to name.
Many of these little tuber clumps can be divided and two, and in some cases, three plants obtained.
Neighbors who are one in the bonds of dahlia friendship can club together and invest in some of these superb and glorious modern dahlias, the splitting of the pot roots into divisions making the ownership of wonderful dahlias possible to those who hitherto have only known the older, more common, and far smaller flowering types.
Club your orders, to be sent to one address. Each root will be separately tagged, with each buyer’s name added, if you wish.
The demand is always far in excess of the supply, and January first finds stocks completely sold out.
Only orders that reach me by December 20th can be sure to be filled. Remit by that date sixty per cent of the amount of your order, and it will be reserved for you.
This is an opportunity to obtain marvelous modern dahlias at so low a cost that they become possible to every home gardener.
“Not how many but how good dahlias” is becoming the rule. Club with neighbors and further reduce the cost. Doing so makes the first cost ridiculously low.
By selling your own field grown tubers produced by these pot roots you can not only get your money back, but make a very handsome profit besides.
The pride and satisfaction of having in your garden these modern, superlative dahlias is beyond estimation, for these are the dahlias that are shown at those amazing horticultural miracles, the nationally famous Dahlia Shows of New York and San Francisco.
I can supply pot roots to a limited extent of other enormous, modern dahlias. Mention those you desire, and enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope and I will reply by return mail whether I can reserve them for you or not, and at what price.
Exhibition-Quality Dahlias for 1924
Please note that this information is provided for historic reference only. We do not have these dahlias for sale. One dollar in 1924 is worth just under $18 today.
The Joy of Growing Dahlias from Seed
Easy and Quick Method of Securing Large Stocks of Plants for Cut Flowers and Tubers.
Seeds cost little.
A letter from one of my customers, October 15, 1923, reads:
I grow dahlias for the cut flower trade in a small town. I do not handle many of one kind but have now 250 different colors.
Last spring I bought a package of California dahlia seed, and believe me I got some of the most beautiful colors I ever saw, and large flowers, too. Most of them measured from 6 inches to 10 inches.
I raised 75 plants, no two alike, and I wouldn’t take $200 for them. The blooms were Decorative, Hybrid Cactus and Cactus.
The happy experience of this man can be duplicated by everyone.
Seeds afford the home gardener, and the roadside flower stand, a quick, easy, sure way, at trifling expense, of growing blooms that will excite instant admiration.
Dahlia seed planted in the house, February 15 to March 1, just as you raise tomato plants, and set out when weather is safe, will produce by fall profuse blooms and a sturdy, good sized clump of tubers to each plant.
These tubers can be divided for planting the following spring and each tuber will produce a plant that will be absolutely true to its parent clump, unless the bloom is a variegated (striped) one. These are hard to “fix,” and may vary from year to year in colors, but are just as interesting.
Another of my customers planted 200 seeds and his garden was constantly visited by amazed and wondering and delighted flower lovers and he was asked to sell quite a number of the clumps of roots.
He sold many dollars worth of cut flowers from these seedling plants during the summer. The fact that they grew from seed seemed to interest buyers unusually.
Selling seedling dahlia plants opens an entirely new channel of business. Each dahlia seedling (exactly like each human being) is different from any that ever grew before, and the buyer of the entire clump of roots of the plant that comes from a seed becomes the possessor of ALL that there is of that particular variety.
He can take it home and divide the clump the following spring, planting probably six tubers. These will give him 36 plants the next year, 216 plants the following year, and in the fourth summer, 1296 plants — pretty good from just one dahlia seed.
What if California seed does cost three cents each, for the best kind? Every gardener should plant at least 100 seeds.
Besides all the increase, there is ALWAYS the possibility of securing a New Creation in a dahlia that will make you famous.
You can name each plant, if you wish. Everyone can name his seedling dahlias as freely as he names his boys and girls and just as the name of your child is registered with the town clerk, so the name of any dahlia you find amply worthwhile should be registered with the nearest Horticultural Society.
See my Booklet No. 3 on how to grow seeds and seedlings, and what the encouragements are for expecting famous results, and how to register the name, and how to secure the greatly coveted Certificate of Merit from the American Dahlia Society, which gives your seedling dahlia a standing throughout the entire United States as a New Creation well worth being owned by anyone.
The growing of dahlias from seed and selling each clump to someone who admires its bloom, and who is desirous of possessing, exclusively, that particular variety of dahlia, has great possibilities.
Plant all the seeds you can. Advertise the plants by roadside signs, and by small inexpensive classified advertisements in your newspapers. People will come considerable distances to see fine seedling blooms.
Each plant could be tagged with a number, and when sold the buyer's name could be added. After frost, the clumps can be dug, called for by the buyer by appointment, or sent by parcel post.
My eastern grown seed is selected from the largest and best blooms of Decorative, Cactus, Peony, Hybrid Cactus, Collarette and Giant Single dahlias, the single dahlias being wonderfully spotted and striped.
The seed of all these types is carefully mixed in each packet — 250 seeds for 50 cents, postpaid.
The California seed I offer is selected from the finest, largest blooms of both Decorative, Peony and Cactus types of dahlias, carefully mixed, and will produce Decorative and Cactus and Peony and sometimes beautiful single types of blooms.
Customers ordering Archer’s seed should specify which type of bloom they desire seed from, as the seed is put up Decorative in one packet, Cactus in another, Pompon in another, etc. Planting pompon seed brings extremely satisfactory results in lovely pompom flowers of many colors.
I am often asked what California grown seed is the best. All that is produced by careful growers is excellent. I plant myself, the kinds I sell, and have fine results.
Fenton’s Dahlia Farm has probably the most famous reputation for seed production and I sell more Fenton seed than any other. The blooms from any of the California seed I offer will delight you.
Many of my customers plant seed from each of the California growers, and give repeat orders, a proof that they are well pleased with the results from the seed planted.
Order seed early. Customers 2500 miles distant, and some only 50 miles away, have ordered seed for 1924 delivery. Interest in growing dahlias from seed is so great, and increasing so much, that it is entirely probable there will be a shortage of fine California seed early in 1924.
In the spring of 1923 I was unable to further supply certain varieties of California Dahlia seed, the entire production of some growers having been sold out. Order seed early, in fact. Do it Now, and avoid probable disappointment.
CHARLTON BURGESS BOLLES,
Media, Pennsylvania.
Dahlia Seeds, choice mixed varieties, Eastern grown, per packet of 250 seeds $..50
Asmus, California, 100 seeds 3.00
50 seeds 1.50
(Pompoms) 100 seeds 1.50
Archer, California, 50 seeds 2.00
Trade Packet 1.00
Smaller Pkt 50
Home garden Pkt 25
(State flowering type desired)
Fenton, California, Hand Hybridized, 100 seed 3.00
50 seeds 1.50
Bolles Dahlia Booklet No. 3 — Propagation of the Dahlia; explains the growing of dahlia seedlings, and also tells how to grow your own seed from your own blooms 50c
