Show Garden lore J V IQ autumn and winter care of Gl adolus the digging need not toe be a bur task it is most easily done when the soil is lust just dry elou enough agh to be loose and soft A good way to get the bulbs out of the ground Is to break up the soil in the row by digging down and loosening it a little from each side the the bulbs can usually be lifted by the leaves and pulled though the broken ground without having the bulbs or faulb bulb lets drop off be sure to dig them early enough so that the bulbs will not be frozen in the ground As soon as the bulbs are separated from the earth it Is well to cut off the top close to the bulbs im ned lied lately with a pair of shears or scissors never tear off the tops as this will tear the bulb scales scalea and injure the bulb after they are topped spread the bulbs bulbin to dry for a few days in the open brins brine them inside at night cure them tor for at least two weeks in some dry place before storing them thein permanently in the cellar after the bulbs have been dried for two or three weeks the old dead shriveled bulb usually separates easily at this time a cork layer is forming to niale make dividing suIi ions between the two do not go too far with this cleaning and break any of the dead outer scales of the new bulb having dried the bulbs well and cleaned them they are ready for permanent storage the proper place is a moderately moist cellar an apple or potatoe cellar will do temperatures of about 40 degrees F is about right keep the bulbs up off the floor in a moist cellar |