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Cornell Extension Bulletin io 



Shallow cultivation results in a dust mulch, which conserves the moisture 

 by lessening the evaporation from the soil. M. Crawford says that 

 cultivation cannot be overdone; a crop can be cultivated every day, 

 provided the soil is in a favorable condition. It is best not to touch 

 a clay soil when it is too wet. Care should be exercised that the culti- 

 vation be shallow. When the corms are not planted deeply, many of 

 the main roots will be near the surface, and hand weeding may be 

 necessary; otherwise the roots are easily injured. 



Fig. 13. THE TRIAL GROUNDS OF THE AMERICAN GLADIOLUS SOCIETY 



The rows were three feet and si.x inches apart, and the bulbs were placed nine inches apart in the row. 

 Each stake marks a separate variety 



Instead of cultivating the gladiolus a mulch of strawy manure may 

 be applied, or some other loose material used to imitate the same condi- 

 tions as cultivation. This is not believed, however, to be as beneficial 

 as cultivation. 



When grown commercially for corms in vast acreages, it is not profitable 

 to use any form of stake for the gladiolus. When cut flowers are wanted, 

 it sometimes becomes necessary to employ a method of support which 

 shall be inexpensive and efficient. Gladioli break at the union of stalk 

 and corm. It is in order to prevent this that stakes are used. L. M. 

 Gage places upright posts five feet apart, with two strands of cheap 



