212 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



ON HEADING LETTUCE 



l-'l.'EDF.KIC HeCTTE 



A TREXCH was dug 18 inches deep and 18 inclies wide, 

 ■^^ the soil being thrown on both sides. 3 inches of humus 

 was spread at the bottom, topped with ,? inches of soil ; a 

 double row was planted, the plants alternating. Pea brush 

 was then laid crosswise on the trench until the plants re- 

 cuperated from the shift, then removed and again shaded 

 when signs of heading prevailed. This resulted in 95 per 

 cent good heads of the amount planted. The varieties 

 tried were '"W'ayahead" and "Salamander" sown May 18, 

 both answered well to the treatment. The first picking 

 was obtained July 22, '"Wayahead" taking the lead. All 

 remaining heads are well formed and show no signs of 

 "bolting." whereas the same planting under ordinary con- 

 ditions and treatment have not headed to satisfaction and 

 have long past. 'Jhe imjKjrtant point is that moisture, the 

 principal item, is under better control as a hose was just 

 inserted in the trench and flooded when required. 



ilr. Thompson, the suj)erintendent, shares my opinion 

 that it is worth while doing, when (|uality heads of fine 

 crisp lettuce are required during the season, when it seems 

 to be Ijevond control of "bolting.'" 



THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE GLADIOLUS 



AT a regular monthly lueeting of tlie ( iarden Flow- 

 ■'"^ ers Society of Indianajwlis, A. E. Kunderd, gladiolus 

 specialist, was tiie ]>rincipal speaker. Mr. Kunderd said: 

 "The Gladiolus is fast becoming recognized as one of the 

 most universally a(la])table and useful of all Summer 

 flowers. Its possibilities are just beginning to be real- 

 ized. It is not an ornamental plant like a canna or coleus, 

 and yet it adds great charm either to the border or among 



roses, shrubbery, etc., and is unsurpassed as a garden at- 

 traction and as a cut flower. Matthew Crawford once 

 said 'It has few equals and no superiors. None are more 

 beautiful and there is nothing in sight to supersede it. " 



.\fter speaking of its history, its improvement, and 

 p(issil)ilities of still further improvement, Mr. Kunderd 

 added that there is much to be said on culture and grow- 

 ing, but never forget that the three greatest essentials 

 to successful growing of gladioli, as of most anything 

 else, are good soil, good and frequent cultivation, and 

 plenty of water during the growing season. Well grown 

 gladioli are very superior to those less carefully grown. 

 Gladioli should not be planted too deeply as their roots 

 are less liable to feed in the soil which is above the bulb 

 level. In shallow soils this is important. Deep plowing 

 or spading of soils is desirable but must be done with 

 reference to the depth of the surface soil, as deep spad- 

 ing of shallow soils would bring to the surface too much 

 of the sub-soil. .\ covering of four inches of soil above 

 the corms is generally considered about the best. Mellow 

 loam or sandy soils are better adapted to somewhat 

 deeper planting than is a clay or heavy soil. By successive 

 plantings from early garden making time until late in 

 lune, then following with plantings in the greenhouse 

 "from about .August 10 on until the following March, one 

 may now have blooms of these magnificent flowers almost 

 the year round. 



.\s a variation of the theme "Plant gladioli in your 

 shrubberv and hardy flower borders," he recommended 

 planting other flowers with gladioli to see what a beau- 

 tiful garden one can achieve. That is, feature the 

 gladioli, using such annuals as zinnias and marigolds to 

 carry out the color schemes and keep continuous blossom 

 in the beds. 



^IllllllllUlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllim 



Why Bugs Leave Home 



Gentlemen : It U with :;rent pleamire that I rocoininend 

 WlUon'H O. K. riflnt Spray. I have UKed It on Bnxwfuiil. 

 and It hiis OioroiiKlily elcnnod the Iiitter of Iteixmlte. I hiiv»' 

 alw) found II very MiillHfnrtory In the greenli'inse iin well nn 

 In the gordenH. It Ik indispenwahle to thp upkeep ol' the 

 ctttate. VoufB truly, iiKNiiv a. m*n<;KSS. 



Siipl. of Mfh. a. Ilnmlllnn HIci-'h Kstjit.-. 



(U/iiAre(imlThm 



SPRINGFIELD 



NEW JERSEY 



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 35 and 37 Cortlandt St., NEW YORK CITY 



