PLANTS THAT MAY BE USED 187 



every four years. All of these flowers increase by producing 

 new bulbs around the old ones, and if they were not reset 

 they would soon become so crowded as not to flower well. 

 The lifting of the roots is done after the plants are through 

 flowering and the leaves have begun to turn yellow. 



The dahlia and gladiolus are the common spring-planted 

 roots. The dahlia may be started in boxes before time to set 

 out in the open. Usually the cluster of tubers is divided and 

 a single tuber with a bud is set by itself. Barely moist earth 

 and a rather low temperature are best for starting sturdy 

 plants. After danger of frost is past the plants may be set 

 out in the beds where they are to grow. They will grow rap- 

 idly and bloom early. Roots which have not been started 

 may be set out for late blooming as soon as danger of frost is 

 past. The roots may stay in the ground in the autumn till 

 after frost has killed the tops. They should be dug before 

 the ground freezes, the moisture dried off, and stored in a cool, 

 dry place. 



Gladiolus grows best in sandy loam soil, but can be pro- 

 duced satisfactorily under almost any conditions. The bulb 

 of gladiolus is not a true bulb, but is what is called a corm. 

 It differs from a bulb in not being made up of layers. These 

 corms are planted about two or three inches deep. The 

 planting may begin early in spring and be continued at inter- 

 vals until the last of June. This will give a succession of 

 blossoms. The gladiolus increases by means of small corms 

 formed at the base of the old one. These little corms should 

 be saved and planted the next spring. In two years they will 

 produce flowers. The gladiolus corms are lifted in the autumn, 

 after frosts have killed the tops, and are stored away in a 

 cool, dry cellar. 



