WINTER MEETING. 293 



frost, when the unblossomed spikes may be cut and put in water in 

 the cellar and brought out when wanted, A succession of bloom may 

 also be obtained by planting all sizes of bulbs early in the spring, the 

 smallest being the latest in coming into bloom. A small bulb pro- 

 duces as fine flowers as a large one, but yields only one spike, while a 

 large one sends up from two to six, and many of them also produce 

 from one to four side shoots, or secondary spikes, nearly as the first 

 ones, and these, too, aid in prolonging the blooming season. 



Any good soil is suitable for the gladiolus. It is easy of cultiva- 

 tion, and will stand as much manure as the onion or the cabbage. It 

 is important that it be given a place that is rich enough. When bloom- 

 ing bulbs are planted they should be covered with three or four inches 

 of earth to keep the stalks in an upright position, and even then it is 

 safer when one has but few to tie the spikes to stakes, lest they be 

 blown over and be broken off from the bulb. If any become so broken 

 they may be taken up at once and dried, for although it is their nature 

 to continue growing until frost comes, they may be dug as soon as 

 they come into bloom, when not half grown, and still retain their 

 vitality. A bulb grows but once. As soon as a sprout commences to 

 unfurl its leaves it enlarges at the base, sends out roots and forms a 

 new bulb on top of the old one. This continues to increase in size 

 throughout the season, and also produces a number of bulblets on the 

 under side. If allowed to bloom and ripen seed, the bulb will be 

 smaller than it would have been if the spike had been cut when it first 

 came out. The bulblets may be sown in the spring like peas, and under 

 favorable conditions will produce blooming bulbs in one season. I 

 now have nearly a bushel of these for next spring's planting. 



I plant my bulbs in the garden in rows two feet apart, and give 

 them clean cultivation with a Plant, Jr., cultivator, until they are nearly 

 ready to bloom, then I cover the ground heavily with old mulching 

 taken from the strawberry beds. This keeps the soil cool and moist, 

 and induces a strong, healthy, vigorous growth. During the three 

 years I have tried it, it has been very successful, and has given great 

 satisfaction. I have also obtained good results by continuous, clean 

 cultivation throughout the entire season, but I prefer to use the mulch, 

 believing that it is less work and more satisfactory in the end. 



Bulbs should be dug in October or first part of November and the 

 stalks cut off close. They should then be dried, put in baskets, labeled 

 and hung in the cellar, where potatoes will not freeze during the winter, 

 and they will take care of themselves until planting time comes. Rats 

 and mice do not molest them. 



