In addition to stopping the plant to induce early flowering it is usual, particularly when grown for exhibition, to restrict the number of branches that each will bear in order that perfection of bloom may be achieved. The actual number that will be allowed to develop on any particular plant will naturally vary in accordance with the size of bloom, the vigour of the variety and the strength of the ground in which it is grown. It must be obvious, therefore, that a very fair knowledge of the capabilities of the dahlias grown, and of the soil, must be acquired.

Hence to obtain early blooms in fair numbers it is usual to stop the main stems, fairly early in the plant’s life, by removing the growing point; this has the effect of concentrating the full flow of sap into the lateral branches which grow at an accelerated rate.

When very early blooms of giant varieties are required, the break bud is allowed by some growers to develop fully, and some of the side branches removed for some way down the main stem, immediately below the bud, to give a little extra length of stem when the bloom is cut. This treatment has the disadvantage that, though the first blooms are early, the succeeding blooms will come much later.

This is particularly so with the giant varieties, because, after all, there is little point in growing these varieties unless the blooms are big; if smaller blooms are required then varieties which naturally produce bloom of lesser size should be grown. For garden decoration it is not necessary to restrict to the same degree.

One other important point must not be overlooked. Stopping can be used to partially control the time at which blooms are produced, as each and every variety has a natural period for the development of its component parts, from side shoot formation to production and development of bud, and so on.

The time taken from each particular stage to the next will vary a little with the weather conditions prevailing, but the ratio will remain fairly constant from variety to variety, so that the approximate time of bloom from a stop on any given date can be roughly estimated. This control may not be particularly essential in the smaller flowered varieties, which produce blooms in fairly quick succession, but is a great value to the exhibitor of the giant blooms.