204 Cornell Extension Bulletin io 



J. F. Munsell uses a 2-8-10 or a 4-6-10 fertilizer placed in the furrow 

 before dropping the corms, or on top of the soil when the corms are 

 partially covered. 



Maurice Fuld advises sheep manure only, applied after the plants 

 have made their appearance above ground. 



Hamilton (1913) writes as follows: " Those who mix their own fer- 

 tilizers use the following formula, in many cases varying it somewhat to 

 suit individual needs: nitrate of soda, 100 pounds; sulfate of ammonia, 

 100 pounds; tankage, 100 pounds; acid phosphate, 100 pounds; sulphate 

 or muriate of potash, 200 pounds." 



Coleman (1914 b) writes: "We make our own fertilizer, so do not 

 have to pay freight on ' filler.' A formula that has given us the best of 

 satisfaction and that the Glads respond to, is represented by 50 per cent 

 sulphate of potash, 25 per cent sulphate of ammonia and 25 per cent 

 nitrate of soda, by weight." This is applied sparingly along the top of 

 the row at planting. 



Summarizing, it is seen that fertilizers may be applied (a) a ^^-ear before 

 planting, (b) immediately before planting, (c) in the furrow when half 

 filled, (d) on the surface of the soil at planting, or (e) throughout the 

 season, especially when the buds are developing. It is interesting to note 

 the wide range of chemical fertilizers advocated by the various growers, 

 for each of whom his particular mixture is perhaps the best. 



TIME AND MANNER OF PLANTING 



In the Northern States gladiolus corms may be planted in April or 

 May, according to the season, or they may be kept until July if they 

 do not sprout in their place of storage. They should not be planted until 

 the danger of hard frosts is passed, although a slight frost when the shoots 

 are still below the surface of the soil will not injure them. It is necessary 

 to wait until the soil is somewhat dried, especially with clay soil. A corm 

 naturally begins sending out shoots at the approach of spring, so that 

 if the storage conditions are rather warm the corms must be planted 

 before these growing shoots have exhausted their resources. They must 

 be planted so as to allow the shoots to emerge readily from the soil. The 

 shoots often grow around the corm and are difficult to manage, so that 

 the corms need to be planted properly. 



When possible a succession of bloom should be planned, the corms 

 being planted in lots every week or ten days until July. In this way an 

 excellent yield of blooms from a favorite variety may be obtained 

 throughout the season. 



Corms that are to be grown for rapid increase in size should be planted 

 as early as possible, so that they may have a longer growing period and 



