556 Home NATrRE-SxuDv Course. 



It should be applied ankle deep. This material will keep the bulbs from 

 too severe cold; furthermore, the fall and spring rains and winter snows 

 will soak the fertility out of the manure into the soil. This is a case of 

 two birds and one stone — winter protection and plant food supply. It is 

 better that fertilizer of any kind should not come in direct contact with 

 the bulbs. If stable manure cannot be had, autumn leaves may be sub- 

 stituted to the depth of six to eight inches if the leaves are dry. The 

 depth will be much less when wet. Put boards or stones on top of the 

 leaves to keep them from blowing away. These may be removed later 

 when the snows and rains have compacted the covering of leaves. 



As soon as the bulbs show in the spring, the coarser part of the cover- 

 ing should be removed, leaving the finer parts to be worked into the soil 

 later, much to its advantage in fertility. 



JVhat is best to do zvifh bulbs after blooming. 

 In parks, where the idea is to keep the flower-beds a blaze of bloom 

 from early spring until late fall, the bulbs of the crocus, tulip, and 

 hyacinth are dug up, dried and laid away for replantmg another fall. This 

 gives an opportunity to replant the ground with summer plants which 

 have been started in the green-house. This is done before the bulbs are 

 through with their work of the season, that of developmg starch which is 

 later stored in the bulb. The supply is, therefore, curtailed and because of 

 this curtailment there is a deterioration of vigor and in the course of 

 three or four years the old bulbs have to be replaced by new ones. 



I much prefer to let the leaves of all kinds of bulbs remain unmolested 

 until, like autumn leaves, they give signs that their work for the season is 

 ended. At this time I shave the surface of the bed, cutting ofif the now 

 useless foliage and chickweed. I next sprinkle some chemical fertilizer 

 over the bed and then with a garden rake I curry the soil as a hostler 

 would the side of a horse. Nitrate of soda is one of the best chemical fer- 

 tilizers for this particular purpose ; but while shiploads of it come to this 

 country from Chili, it is not easily obtainable in a small way. At most 

 feed stores may be found cotton-seed meal which may be used instead. 

 It is without odor which makes many kinds of fertilizers objectionable. 

 Nitrate of soda dissolves like salt and the solution becomes immediately 

 available for the use of the plant. Cotton-seed meal must first rot before 

 the plant feels its help. \Mien it becomes available its benefits continue 

 longer than that of nitrate of soda. 



Loosen the soil as deeply as possible and not disturb the bulbs. In 

 this loose bed may be planted phlox, marigolds, zinnias, bachelor's 

 buttons, asters, sweet alyssum, candytuft, nasturtiums, poppies, etc. 

 With one exception — that of the poppy — the seeds of the flowers men- 

 tioned above may be sown in shallow boxes in April. The young plants 

 will be growing while the flowers of the bulbs are finishing their career. 



