Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-10-19

The health and vigor Of next
summers bloom from the sum-
mer-floWering bulbs depends to a
considerable extent upon how well
they are stored this winter. Few
gardeners are fortunate enough
to have a suitable storage. one
that provides the right amount of
moisture and the preferred tenn
peratures for good storage. Mod
ern Easements are too dry and too
warm for proper storage.
Many a gardener has given up
trying to grow cannas for the
simple reason that dry-rot de-
stroyed them dr"ing the winter.
CannaS need cool, slightly moist
situation. they may keep salts
factorily on the basement floor if
covered with peatmoss which can
be dampened as needed during the
winter. However, they are more
likely to keep in the garage if pro-
tected from freezing. A tempera-
ture between 40 and SO degrees is
the best. Lacking a moist situa-
ton they might be cleaned and
stored in plastic bags such as are
used in the freezer. The danger
Of drying out is greatly reduced
IN such a container, but they must
be kept cool to prevent sprouting
Keep Dahlia Roots Cool.
Much the same story is true of
the dahlia roots. They need about
the same kind of storage as do
potatoes-cool and moist. In a dry
situation they shrivel, dry rot at
tacks them. In a wet situation
they will rot. In most Easements
they sprout and thus use up much
OF their store of food before plant
ing time.
To meet this situation dahlia
growers follow one or another of
these practices:
Dig hole in the garden and
bury a barrel or box containing
the tubers. which are packed in
peatmoss. vermiculite, or sawdust.
Layers of leaves and dirt are used
to protect the buried box from
freezing.
The clumps of tubers with dirt
are placed on the concrete floor
in the coolest part of the base
ment, and are covered with peat
moss. Over this layers of news
papers are spread to keep out the
heat. If the situation is cool
enough and the tubers are not
allowed to dry out, they will come
through the winter in fair con-
dition.
Wash the tubers, cut apart and
place in a plastic bag. This will
prevent drying out but must be
kept in a cool place to avoid
Sprouting.
Wash the tubers and cut apart,
dip in melted paraffin, coating
each tuber with a thin coat-one
that will effectively prevent dry
ing. Then place in cool situa-
ton.
Select Best System.
No doubt there are other ways
Of keeping the moisture in and
the heat out. the gardener should
select the one most likely to keep
the dahlia tubers safe, under his
particular conditions.
GladioluS corms do not need the
moisture that dahlias and cannas
do, but they need a cool situation
that is free from danger of freez-
ing. Generally. gardeners clean
their corms and store them in
sacks. It is good practice to dry
the corms sufficiently so that the /
old, dried CORN and roots may be
removed-it takes about two
weeks. Then place in sacks adding
l ounce Of napthalene fakes for
each so corms. The sacks should
stay in a warm dry place for a
week or two. to allow the gas from
the flakes to destroy the over
wintering thrips.
Remove the corms and place in
shallow trays or open meShed
bags to be stored in a cool place
preferably one with temperature
between 40 and so degrees. In
such situation the corms should
not begin to sprout before plant
ing time. Do not pile the corms
more than 2 layers deep.
The Peruvian daffodil, also COM
monty called the Ismene lily,
wants a warm dry situation. After