THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



409 



good conditiun. This latter pdint may he further en- 

 hanced by using for the spikes receptacles which hold a 

 good quantity of water, so that the sten:s may he a good 

 depth into the same. Small side shoots taken oft" before 

 all of the spike is in flower do remarkably well for small- 

 sized vases or glasses. A few spikes of any of the orna- 

 mental kinds of grasses would associate very well with 

 these Phloxes, but do not attempt to add to the eft'ect 

 by introducing flowers of a quite different character, either 

 in color or formation. 



Had I to keep a good sujiply of flowers in the con- 

 servatory during the season these I'hlo.xes are in bloom, 

 I would have several of them in pots well prepared for 

 llie purpose. Good plants could thus be had in 9-inch 

 or 10-inch pots that would lend quite a distinct feature, 

 and where the\- had not ]ireviously- '';en grown would 

 constitute a pleasing change to the oiunary run of flower- 

 ing plants then in season. Thev should be potted on from 

 cuttings the previous \ear and plunged out-of-doors to 

 the rim of the pot. In this \\a\ well-established plants 

 could be had, which, when plunged, give but little trouble 

 in watering. Care must be taken, however, that the plants 

 do not suffer from want of water, more especially when 

 the pots are well filled with roots. After flowering in 

 pots they nia\ either be planted oiu or shifted on to larger 

 pots for another season. 



As the season is now advancing for these Phloxes, note 

 should be taken of the varieties seen in flower. Planting 

 had better be deferred till the spring, when growth is 

 commencing, taking the precaution to well prepare the 

 soil when vacant in the autumn. — Gardening Illustrated 

 (Ent::lish). 



GLADIOLUS GROWING FOR PLEASURE. 

 By P. W. Popp 



The Gladiolus is easily the most popular out-door 

 flower of today, almost every color taste may be gratified. 

 The Gladiolus will thrive and give results with but little 

 care, and again the most remarkable results will forward 

 any extra care or attention that is rendered. A season of 

 bloom from July until cut down by the hard frosts may 

 be enjoyed by successive plantings. Even early in June 

 flowers may be had, where the convenience of a green- 

 house or hotbed is at hand. To start the corms that 

 may be planted in the open after danger of frosts is 

 over, a convenient method and one within the reach of 

 all, is to use the ordinary square quart size berry basket, 

 from one to three cornis may be planted according to 

 size, barely covering them and having the liaskets about 

 level full of earth. Ordinary garden soil with the ad- 

 mixture of a little sifted coal ashes makes a good com- 

 ])ost, friable and easily drained, to which the roots will 

 cling when the basket is removed prior to planting out. 

 This is easily accomplished by cutting the corners with 

 pruning shears, and sliding the entire '"ball" out, which is 

 then planted without disturbing the roots. 



Plants so as to have the top of the corms at least three 

 inches below the surface. A depression may be left about 

 each one, which will catch the rains and also allows the 

 sun's .rays to penetrate and warm up the soil. Culti- 

 vating will gradually level u]) the surface these deep 

 planted Gladioli require, but very little support when 

 the plant is large and bearing a heavy flower spike : as 

 a precautionary measure against the blue aphis or other 

 insects that are sometimes found under the outer covering 

 of the corms. I always soak them for a few minutes 

 in a tobacco or nicotine solution "Aphine" or any other 

 good commercial product, using a solution slightly 

 stronger than that recommended for spraying. This also 



acts as a rc]icllant t(j any insects that might be in the soil. 

 I he ideal lenili/.er fur any crop is well decomposed 

 slal)lc maiiurc. but Uns is not idways available. .\ '■Com- 

 plete" manure such as used for potatoes is an excellent 

 .■'Ub.stitute. Ilouc meal or pulverized sheep manure are 

 also good. Alternating these with wood ashes fort- 

 nightly, cultivating after each application, and watering 

 thoroughly when necessary. An occasional dressing of 

 air-slaked lime is very beneficial in keeping the soil sweet. 

 .\fter the flowering sjiike is well defined, "a light applica- 

 tion of Scotch soot and worked into the .soil is grand 

 medium for intensifying the colors of the flowers, es- 

 pecially the pink shades. 



The real beauty of the Gladiolus is only realized in Sep- 

 tember or later, when the flowers have more substance, 

 the colors l:irighter, and the spikes finished with a greater 

 number of open flowers at a time. The blue heliotroiie 

 and lavender shades are especially fine; in July and .\u- 

 gust the hot sunshine and the pollenizing eft'ects of in- 

 sects cause the flowers to "go to sleep" almost as soon 

 as they open. 



]'"or a long season of bloom the following method will 

 be found convenient and jiractical : About .Ajiril 1 take 

 out all the Gladioli from the winter quarters and divide 

 each variety in as many parts as it is desired to have 

 plantings. Take paper bags and mark the planting dates 

 on each, in the vicinity of New York City July 1 is about 

 the latest safe planting date, to insure getting all the 

 blooms, and assure ripening of the corms, select all the 

 largest and heaviest corms for the last planting : all bub- 

 lets and small corms are best planted at the first planting ; 

 each set of bags according to planting dates are then 

 placed in boxes, leaving the top of the bags open for 

 circulation of air and prevent heating ; these boxes are 

 then placed in a dry, cool cellar until the special dates 

 for various plantings occur. A good vegetable cellar 

 is an ideal place. Of the many methods tried I have 

 found this to be the very best, as I find but little shrinkage 

 in the last lot plaiUed. We plant double or zig-zag rows 

 five inches apart, 24 inches between the rows. This al- 

 lows convenience in cultivating and gathering the flowers. 

 High cultivation sometimes renders it necessary to aftord 

 some support. This we furnish by driving stout Bamboo 

 canes in a single line four feet apart, stretching jute 

 twine, down one side of the row and up the other side 

 turning a loop around each stake, this allows a free cir- 

 culation of air, and supports the spike as long as neces- 

 sary. 



When the Glailioli have all bloomed it is well to 

 give a thorough weeding and cultivating, with an ap- 

 plication of lime to the soil to sweeten it and release 

 the latent properties of the fertilizers that have been 

 used. This benefits the corms in the soil and insures 

 good stock for the next year. Digging the corms 

 should be done before the foliage becomes too much 

 ripened. Six inches of the stalk may be left on the 

 corms to advantage. When first dug they should be 

 spread out in a tliin layer in a cool, airy place until 

 thoroughly cured. After being well ripened and thor- 

 oughly dried the tops may be cut oft" close to the corm, 

 the last year's corm removed, and then packed in thin 

 layers about two or three deep in shallow boxes and 

 placed in a cool, dry, frost-proof cellar. A thick lining 

 of newspapers in the boxes is a good insurance against 

 extreme drops in the temperature. 



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