The present chaotic conditions 
seem to me to emphasize the value 
of the Woman’s Farm & Garden As- 
sociation to all women. I know my 
membership at large has fairly made 
my life over for the better. I consider 
_ my yearly dues as an investment in 
_ progress, and I advise other women, 
whether living in town or country, 
to write to Miss Gertrude M. Bardo- 
nner, RFD. No. 1, Gibsonia, Penna. 
for leafiet more fully explaining the 
objects of the Association. I can 
_ truthfully say from many years’ ex- 
perience as a member, that the Asso- 
ciation fully lives up to these. 
Dahlias and Trilliums 
Mrs. Forrest Huss, Afton, Iowa. 
Dahlias are now in storage after 
a grand show of color until frost cut 
them down. A year ago the fall was 
so dry the tubers came up with no 
soil attached. I was dubious as to 
how they would keep, but after label- 
ling by writing with an_ indelible 
pencil on a tuber after wiping the 
_ place clean with a damp cloth, I 
wrapped each clump in a newspaper 
and packed in an iron barrel in 
in our regular fruit room in base- 
ment. Ordinarily they go into barrel 
unwrapped, stems down or slanted 
downward. They kept perfectly and 
were growing sprouts through the 
paper when examined about May 
Tat. 
My planting date here in South 
Towa is May 25th. I plant 6 inches 
deep, laying tuber flat. When about 
12 inches high, pinch out top. Side 
shoots can be pinched later. Glads 
and Dahlias are planted at the same 
_ time in rows in vegetable garden and 
cultivated as vegetables (after every 
rain). It takes about 3 months for 
both to bloom, which is around 
September Ist, when we can expect 
rain and cooler weather. They both 
bloomed earlier this year because of 
~ abundant rain. Dahlias bloom on new 
growth and must have cool, damp 
weather to do best. When season is 
right I pick armloads of perfect 
flowers. 
Trilliums are lovely wild flowers 
and interesting to collect, as there 
are many varieties, each native to 
difrent parts of the country. The 
name is derived from Latin “tri” 
meaning three. It has 3 petals, 3 se- 
pals and 8 parts to leaf. They grow 
from bulbs which are found several 
inches below the soil surface. We 
have the native white T. nivale, 
which is the earliest wild flower to 
bloom each spring. It grows only 
about 3 in. high. Some variants hide 
their flower under the leaf. Colors 
range from white to pink and ma- 
roon. I read of a double white form 
of the tall T. grandiflora. Trilliums 
must have deep, mulchy, moist soil 
and shade. Some from South Caro- 
lina grow a foot or more high. 
My experience raising lettuce in 
leaky slop jars has encouraged Aunt 
Molly to try the same thing. Big Bos- 
ton is the best winter lettuce I’ve 
tried and is especially adapted to 
those who have a covered back porch. 
Hardy to our coldest, 15 below zero, 
but needs protection from too much 
wet in winter. For the open ground, 
to broadcast it among standing corn 
and then ieave the stalks standing is 
good practice. 
