122 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1892. 



A new class or type of Gladiolus is offered to the public for 

 the first time this season and it is claimed to be a decided 

 advance on the older kinds. This new comer is a cross between 

 G. 'Saundersii and the hybrids of G. gandavejisis. It is called 

 Gladiolus Hybridus Nanceianus. The special claims for it 

 are the large size of flower, length of spike, and fine coloring. 



The cultivation of the gladiolus is very easy if the soil is 

 adapted to their growth. A light loam with a porous subsoil 

 gives the best results. The land is plowed about six inches 

 deep, and furrows made three feet apart. The fertilizer is 

 sprinkled in the furrow and the bulbs planted six inches apart 

 and about four inches deep, two rows in a furrow. Never plant 

 the gladiolus two years in succession on the same land. They 

 may be planted any time after the frost is out of the ground 

 until the 10th of June. They can be placed closer than six 

 inches if one has but a limited amount of space ; but they are 

 easier kept free of weeds if they are at that distance. The 

 soil should be well worked throughout the season and drawn 

 up slightly to the plants. Stake them if you wish ; if you 

 have several hundred thousand, possibly you will not wish to. 

 If very fine spikes are wanted, liquid manure applied when 

 they have formed their seventh leaf will greatly improve them. 

 When frosty nights begin the bulbs should be lifted, and when 

 dry, the old bulb, roots, and bulblets taken ofl" and the bulbs 

 and bulblets stored in a cellar during the winter. 



The question has often been asked if the gladiolus "runs 

 out," or reverts to the old varieties. They never do. Some 

 grower taking size as his criterion of quality of a ])ulb, discards 

 or loses his " poor " bulbs and consequently his best varieties. 

 He therefore says they have " run out." 



In some of the best varieties the only way of increase or 

 even keeping is by the small bulblets. These will bloom the 

 second or third year, if the hard covering is peeled ofl'. 



The most interesting way of increasing a stock of bulbs as 

 well as the varieties is by growing seedlings. Seed may be 

 saved from several good varieties which have been isolated, or 

 hybridized by hand ; this should be sown as early in the year 

 as possible. One is sure to get some fine flowers, if they are 



