22 



HOUSE PLANTS 



an abundant supply of leafmould can be 

 had in suburban districts. 



HANDLING LEAVES 



In the winter the leaves may be used 

 for banking coldframes and pits, to keep 

 out the frost, or for mulching the bulb beds. 

 In the spring, when the pits are empty, 

 throw all the leaves into a pit, wet them 

 thoroughly, and allow them to rot. By 

 fall they are in good condition to use. If 

 this way of rotting them is followed, you 

 will probably need to wet them several 

 times during the summer. Another good 

 way to handle the leaves is to dig as large 

 a hole in the ground as you can fill with 

 leaves. Pack in the leaves as tightly as 

 possible, wetting them as they are being 

 thrown in. A good time to do this is on a 

 rainy day, for then it saves the necessity 

 of handling water. If you have a hose 

 you can do the work at any time. 



If neither of these ways can be followed, 

 the leaves may be put in a heap on the ground, 

 thoroughly moistened, and tramped down. 

 When treated thus, it will be necessary to 

 water them oftener, because the pile presents 



