PLANTING BULBS IN THE YARD 57 



September or October is the proper season for plani> 

 ing. This will give the bulbs an opportunity to make a 

 strong growth of roots before cold weather. They may 

 be left undisturbed for years. The dressing usually given 

 lawns is sufficient to stimulate their growth. 



TAKING UP BULBS 



Tulips and hyacinths should be taken up after the 

 leaves die, so that they may be sorted and replanted in 

 the fall. They will come up for several years in succes- 

 sion if left undisturbed, but a more even growth is as- 

 sured if new bulbs are used and if the beds are made 

 over each year. The old ones may be planted in irreg- 

 ular clumps in borders, where they should remain. 



The leaves of the bulbs should die down naturally 

 before they are taken up, or, if the beds are wanted im- 

 mediately for other plants, the bulbs may be taken up 

 as soon as the leaves turn yellow, and may be " heeled in " 

 (planted close together in some out-of-the-way corner) 

 until they have ripened naturally, after which they may 

 be placed in a cellar or some dry, cool place until wanted 

 in the fall. 



The late tulips and the crocuses, narcissi, snowdrops, 

 and scillas should be left in the ground undisturbed. 



The bulbs in borders are all planted so deep that the 

 ground can be cultivated above them after the leaves 

 die down. The smaller varieties of annuals may be 

 planted above them. 



