Preparing the Beds n 



early spring bloomers, like the hepaticas 

 and trilliums, grow in what we call shade 

 though at the time of their growth and 

 bloom they have the sunlight through the 

 leafless tree branches. Do not make a bed 

 where the drainage is bad or where water 

 will stand in it during the winter. Tile 

 draining will improve the bed under almost 

 any circumstances. 



Keep away from large trees. A vigor- 

 ous elm, and a perennial cannot eat and 

 drink out of the same dish and both grow 

 fat. The perennial will be the one to 

 suffer, mostly from lack of moisture. If 

 you have planted near a tree or lack of 

 space compels you to do so, take a sharp 

 spade and, each spring, cut deeply all 

 along the edge of the flower bed nearest 

 the tree, and pull out from the bed all the 

 small roots you can without disturbing 

 the plants. This will help it for a time, 

 but the elm will invade the bed again and 

 the operation must be repeated. This ap- 

 plies to beds within eight or ten feet of a 



