SPRING WORK 37 



cases, of course, the covering must be taken off 

 the next morning unless the weather is extremely 

 severe. Few hardy plants, however, are injured by 

 April cold; bleeding heart, astilbe, crown imperial 

 and some of the lilies, which have tender shoots, 

 are exceptions. The greater danger is too much 

 protection once growth has set in. 



One reason why so many plants "winter kill" 

 is because they are murdered in spring. Each, 

 if it disappears for the winter, has its own time 

 to show itself, and unless its precise location is 

 remembered which ought to be the case it is un- 

 safe to put an implement into the soil, lest some- 

 thing be beheaded and, lacking the strength, fail 

 to rise to the occasion a second time. 



When April, say, is half over remove the last 

 of the litter, if it is not to remain to be worked in. 

 Use the left hand, and a basket, for this, and, with 

 a two-tined steel table fork or the point of a nar- 

 row trowel held in the right hand, stir the soil 

 gently around the crowns of plants and between 

 if you are sure that everything is above ground or 

 so far below that cultivation will not be hazardous. 

 At the same time, pull up any weeds that have 

 got a start some will have survived the winter 

 and destroy, or remove to a nursery row, all seed- 

 ling plants that are out of place. Make a note, 

 too, of plants that require division or transfer to 

 a more favorable location. 



Early cultivation of the soil is among the most 

 important of April operations. It not only en- 



