282 Cornell Extension Bulletin ii 



a variety in which the character seems rather constant. The substance, 

 the form, and the peculiarities of the bloom are carefully noted. Compari- 

 sons with other somewhat similar varieties are made. It has been inter- 

 esting, also, to get a little information concerning the number of blooms 

 open at one time on a spike. 



As each variety comes into bloom it is tagged, and the date recorded. 

 Each year these dates are compared. Seasons vary greatly as regards 

 temperature, moisture, and in various other ways, so that it is difficult 

 to say that a certain variety blooms in a definite number of days. This 

 year perhaps the season is hot and moist, and the variety blooms in 

 seventy-five days; the next year conditions are wholly different, and it 

 takes eighty-five days. The method followed has been to take the 

 average number of days from planting to blooming. The condition or 

 maturity of the corm also has much to do with the precocity of blooming, 

 but as an indicator of relative earliness and lateness, it has seemed of 

 value to give a definite number of days. 



In describing the spike, those above one hundred centimeters are 

 considered tall, those below sixty centimeters rather dwarf, and the others 

 of medium height. Height is measured from the soil to the tip of the 

 spike. The number of blooms per spike is given. Here again criticism 

 would be just, since exceptional corms might produce many more blooms. 

 The average is taken as the number to be recorded. The number of 

 shoots and spikes per corm is also noted. 



The habit of a gladiolus really resolves itself into a consideration of 

 erect ness, height, and whether of spreading or of compact growth. Com- 

 pact plants are those in which the leaves are not decidedly divergent 

 nor drooping. 



The question of vigorous growth is judged by abundance and excellence 

 of broad foliage as well as by strength of spike. 



Due to the heavy soil of the trial grounds, cormels do not attain a 

 large size, and many times do not develop. The notes in regard to 

 prolificacy should thus be read with these points in mind. In deter- 

 mining the size of the corm, the size when received or when planted is 

 compared with the size at digging. If the corm attains on the average 

 a large size, the variety is given the benefit of the doubt and is said to 

 produce large corms. With age, corms normally large break up into a 

 number of smaller ones. The size has been judged from corms supposedly 

 in their prime. From year to year the descriptions are compared. If 

 they differ widely from previous years, they are changed. The writer 

 has not found such great changes in color from year to year as m9,ny 

 growers report. The chief difference is found in so-called white varieties,^ 



1 Gladiolus studies — II. Culture and hybridization of the gladiolus. Cornell Extension Bulletin 10, 

 p. 230. 



