Gladiolus Studies — II 203 



W. C. Bull, of Ramsgate, England, uses " stable dung dug in during 

 the winter, and superphosphate of lime at the rate of a double handful 

 per square yard, dusted over the surface of the soil immediately after 

 planting." 



Mrs. K. Atkinson applies bone meal two weeks before planting. When 

 the growth is about an inch and a half high, and again when the plants 

 are ready to flower, they are dressed with Bull's Mixture for Plants. 



J. L. Moore uses hen manure and stable manure once in three years. 

 Besides this, he sows a cover crop of rye after the bulbs are dug, and 

 plows under the green growth in the spring. 



C. Betscher also seeds rye at the time of the last cultivation, the earlier 

 the better. This he would, no doubt, plow under when in greatest growth 

 and full of sap, for the green crop should not be allowed to get woody, 

 thereby losing its greatest value as a humus maker. 



W. W. Wiknore, jr., recommends bone meal and sheep manure (one 

 part of bone meal to four parts of sheep manure) at the rate of two tons 

 per acre, using it when the plants are about a half foot tall, thoroughly 

 mixing it with the soil by hoeing and cvdtivating. 



B. H. Trac}^ suggests the use of bone meal and lime applied in the 

 early spring. 



H. A. Richardson applies a good grade potato phosphate at the rate 

 of one thousand pounds per acre, spreading it broadcast after the spring 

 plowing and harrowing it in. 



E. T. Barnes prefers well-rotted stable manure, applied either in the 

 fall or in the spring before planting, often after planting and used as 

 a mulch. 



C. Zeestraten, besides applying cow manure, has used Chile saltpeter 

 when the flowers are grown for cutting. 



M. Cra\\^ord uses a complete fertilizer in the grain drill before planting, 

 and believes nitrate of soda a valuable substance if used properly. For 

 small areas he dissolves one ounce of nitrate of soda in ten quarts of water. 

 When using the dry crystals, he distributes it evenly over the surface 

 of the soil at the rate of one pound to a square rod. It is best not to risk 

 applying the fertilizer along the row. 



F. C. Thomanh has used, besides sheep manure and hardwood ashes, 

 a great deal of soot. It seems impossible to account for the freedom 

 from disease of his Rochester White gladioli in any other way than by the 

 probability that the soot prohibits the spread of the infection. 



W. Van Fleet applies a 4-4-8 potato or truck fertilizer broadcast 

 in the row at the rate of six hundred or one thousand pounds per acre, 

 and works it in well before planting. He recommends the avoidance of 

 an excessive use of tankage. 



