cocoons should be destined. The perennials should be cut oft' 
short and burned, as they whip in the Avind and injure their 
small roots. 
The tops should be cut from the Dahlias and a good, strong Dahlias 
label tied to the satisfactory tubers. Dig the clumps with plenty 
of dirt and allow them to dry out in the sun for a day before 
storing. They should be placed stem down for two weeks at 
least, so that the very powerful acid in the stem may drain out. 
It is better to turn them with the tubers down again so that the 
shoots that start early in the spring will be straight. I put my 
different varieties in separate baskets and write the name on the 
handle, making assurance doubly sure. Dahlias will winter 
wherever potatoes will and they usually suffer from drying not 
damp. I kept mine for years in a loft over an old spring house, 
with some earth on them and sacking or hay over that. The 
potatoes and apples are in the same place. Once the Dahlias 
froze slightly but were none the worse for it in the spring — I 
think because they were not disturbed and thawed gradually. 
That authority, Mrs. Hill, keeps Salvia Patens tubers in the 
same way, but I have failed twice. 
Gladiolus should not be dug until after the stalk is dry and Gladiolus 
brown. Keep the varieties separate by storing them in paper 
bags, or in grape baskets that can be marked plainly. If during 
the summer, the leaves have been, brown on the edges, it is an 
indication of "black rot.'' Before putting the bulbs away, soak 
them in a five per cent, solution of formaldehyde and dry well : 
repeat the treatment before planting in the spring. Look at 
your bulbs occasionally and dust with sulphur or lime if they 
show signs of decay. They need air to keep well and if the 
bulbs seem to be shriveling, wet newspapers laid over them will 
plump them up. Gladioli live five years and if the little bulbs 
are sown like peas for two years, they will bloom the third year. 
Try planting your Gladioli seven inches deep, for a new bulb 
must form above the old corm before the plant produces its 
stalk. Lime-water (weak) put on the ground every three days 
just before the bud opens, deepens the color. If cut when the 
first bud opens and allowed to open in the dark, the delicate 
shades will be very beautiful in color. Peruvian Daffodils. 
Hyacinth Canclicans and Tuberoses — all of which we do not 
grow as much as we should — can be stored with the Gladioli 
but C annas require a warmer place. 
Bulbs are better for being planted at once as they shrink and Bulbs 
wither out of the ground, but courage falters at tearing up a 
bed of glorious annuals. One fairly welcomes the devastating 
frost that leaves one free to work. Bulbs should be planted 
four times their own depth — Chester Jay Hunt advertises an 
adjustable dibble that is very useful. Nearly all bulbs make a 
root growth in the fall, but Spanish Iris appear above the 
ground — not that we are able to get many with Quarantine 37 
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