Soil and Culture 39 
ing is October and November, although 
with bulbs that mature earlier than this 
and are therefore offered earlier, there is 
no reason to wait. The less time they 
spend out of the ground the better. The 
early spring-flowering bulbs may be 
planted later than any of the others, for 
the reason that it is important to hold 
back their top growth altogether the fall 
of their planting. Ordinarily top growth 
commences about six weeks after planting, 
the bulb up to that time being busy with 
development of its root system ; there- 
fore the ideal time for planting the bulbs 
which it is desirable to have checked in 
this above-ground activity until spring, 
is six weeks before the time for frost, or 
rather freezing. This date may easily 
be figured for any given latitude with the 
aid of a good almanac. 
Always cut the flower stalks away im- 
mediately after the flowers have faded, but 
never cut the tops or leaves from any 
bulbous plant after it has flowered, until 
