258 HOME FLORICULTURE 



them in a bed of formal design you spoil the effect of 

 them. You want them where you will "happen upon 

 them," and not in a bed. 



Be sure to dot the border, or row of herbaceous 

 plants, with bulbs. They will brighten it charmingly 

 before the other plants begin to grow much. 



It is not necessary to take up your bulbs each 

 season, as some seem» to think. I prefer to let them 

 remain undisturbed for two or three years. Then 

 I lift them after the foliage has ripened, and divide 

 them, storing them away until fall, when they are 

 reset in new beds. The beds where bulbs grow can 

 be utilized for annuals without making it necessary 

 to disturb the bulbs, which will have completed their 

 flowering before it is time to put out the annuals. 

 The soil can be stirred with a rake, taking care not 

 to let the rake teeth penetrate far enough to come 

 in contact with the bulbs. 



The bulb bed should be covered in fall with litter 

 from the barnyard, or leaves, to the depth of eight 

 inches or a foot. Remove in spring before the bulbs 

 begin to grow. If left on too long, they will send up 

 their stalks through it, and being tender, they will be 

 broken when you come to take it from the bed. 



