THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



Oct. month, even into November. But if a cold spell should 

 ^"^5 lay them low in October, we bow to the inevitable with 

 a good grace. It is usual to lift the roots and store them 

 in a dry place for the winter, but many amateurs, pre- 

 sumably because they are short of both time and room, 

 leave them in the ground. Sometimes the roots rot in 

 the soil, often they grow again in spring. Much turns 

 on the character of the soil and the nature of the winter. 

 In a heavy, damp soil and a cold locality, more losses 



might be expected 

 than in a light, drained 

 soil in a mild district. 

 If it is decided to lift 

 the rootstocks, they 

 should be taken up a 

 few days after cutting 

 off the tips, and stored 

 in a dry, frost-proof 

 place. Cannas ought 

 to be lifted and stored 

 in all cases. 



Gladioli in A utuinn. — 



The splendid Gladiolus 



wanes towards the end 



of September, and the 



foliage begins to ripen 



off even if there is no frost. When the leaves turn 



yellow the plants ought to be taken up, and the stems 



removed from the corms. It may be found that new 



corms have formed on the large ones, and in this case 



the older part can be broken off and thrown away ; the 



two portions part from each other quite readily. The 



new corms can be stored in a dry place free from frost 



for the winter, and replanted the following year, when 



Fig. 78.— Lifting Gladioli. 



a. Removing soil from corms. 



b. Corm prepared for storing. 



c. Flower stem cut off well above corm. 



