184 YARD AND GARDEN 



with a four- or five-incli layer of leaves or litter. 

 One of the fine points in bulb culture is the 

 removal of this winter mulch early enough in 

 the spring to harden the young growths. If 

 they are allowed to come up under the covering, 

 penetrate through the m«lch and become drawn 

 and yellow they are in no condition to resist a 

 suden freeze. It is best to remove the mulch 

 by degrees beginning early in March by dis- 

 posing of an inch of the litter and following 

 this by the removal of subsequent layers until, 

 by the time all danger of frost is past, no cover 

 remains on the beds. Should the beginner be- 

 lieve, however, that the weather justiiies his 

 removing the litter all at once he will show his 

 wisdom by having it close at hand so that a 

 light cover may be hastily applied should the 

 weather suddenly threaten a damaging cold 

 spell. 



LIFTING AND DIVIDING 



It is always a question to determine how long 

 bulbs should be allowed to remain without lift- 

 ing and dividing them. This, liowever, is usu- 

 ally answered liy attending circumstances. It 

 may be desirable in some situations to set out 

 l)edding plants or to grow annuals or perennials 

 in the beds which have been left bare by the 



