70 Growing Flowers 



cold frames in March when they will bloom as 

 early as May. Under ordinary circumstances, 

 they bloom in June or July. 



Gladioli require a rich soil for profusion of blos- 

 soms, though they will flourish in almost any soil. 



Gladioli should be staked when the plants have 

 reached a growth of from twelve to eighteen inches, 

 or the wind will be likely to blow them down. 

 Even a heavy rainstorm will beat them down and 

 wash up the roots which are not deeply covered. 



When digging gladiolus bulbs, save the small bulb- 

 lets for future planting. In time these little 

 bulbs will make flowering bulbs. 



For a succession of gladiolus flowers, plant the 

 bulbs every two weeks until August first. After 

 that time it will be useless to plant as the cold will 

 kill the flowers before they mature. 



Three times as many bulbs will come from gladioli 

 planted in June than from those planted in April. 

 It seems that Nature, knowing that the late plants 

 will not mature seed, provides more abundantly 

 by multiplying the bulbs. 



