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Cornell Extension Bulletin io 



Somewhat the same system is in vogue with Jackson (1889), who writes: 



The hybridized seeds were planted in April, 1886, in shallow boxes, and so grown 

 throughout the summer. About midsummer, when the leaves attained a considerable 

 height, fine sifted cow-manure was spread over the soil in the boxes to the depth of half 



an inch or more. This proved beneficial as a mulch and 

 source of liquid-manure at each watering. In autumn the 

 bulbs were sifted out of the earth. . . . The second year 

 the seedlings were planted thickly in rows in the open ground. 



Gage (1913 ?) gives the following directions for 

 the care of the seed bed ; he recommends sowing 

 out-of-doors about May 15, when the ground has 

 become warm: 



Many growers place their gladiolus seed bed under shade 

 during the first year, but I think that this is wrong, for 

 after testing both methods I am convinced that seedlings 

 grown under shade do not produce as large or as strong 

 corms as those grown under the open sunshine. 



It is, of course, desirable to keep the seed bed covered 

 with matting or other suitable material for two or three 

 weeks after planting, to conserve the moisture and facili- 

 tate germination; but after the seeds have started to grow 

 and roots are formed, the bed should have an abundance 

 of air and sun; also plenty of water should be added if 

 the bed is liable to suffer from drought. 



I prefer to have the soil in my bed rather sterile, because 

 the weaker seeds will not survive long in a poor soil and 

 much of the struggle for existence — for the survival of 

 the fittest — is ended in the seed bed and I am thus 

 saved the labor and bother of growing weaklings; but after 

 the plants are well started I begin to feed them, giving 

 them an occasional top dressing of some good commercial 

 fertilizer, and later I apply hard-wood ashes. 



Hendrickson (19 n) writes that seed 



will have to be carried over until the following 

 spring, when it can be planted in shallow drills, 

 covering about one-eighth to one-fourth inch 

 with soil, they will only make a sHght grass like 

 growth the first year, 

 and must be taken up 

 in the fall and housed 

 away from frost; the 

 following spring they 

 can be planted as one 

 would sow garden peas 

 and covered about one 

 and one-half inches 

 deep; they will make a 

 little more growth and 

 perhaps a small per- 

 centage will flower, but 

 the bulbs will have to 

 be lifted and planted 

 Fig. 34. GLADIOLUS SEEDLING once more before a 



Note the thick roots at the base and the large cormels. This is shown' gOOd showmg of flowerS 

 after si.x months' growth from seed can be expected. 



