384 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



in the way of flowers. A Gladiolus spike can be cut as the first 

 flower opens and will, with just a little care, keep on opening for a 

 week or more ; or it can be left on the plant for a number of days 

 after it is first ready to cut. By proper management the grower can 

 even arrange so as to have a constant supply of flowers coming along 

 from the beginning of April until the first flowers are being cut 

 outdoors from bulbs planted in the open during April. While he 

 has to have flowers all Summer he should plant only lightly for such 

 as will come in during late August and September and try to follow 

 up with a crop ready for cutting during October or until the snow 

 flies. Gladioli are bound to turn out a money-making crop when 

 handled in this manner, especially when only good varieties are 

 made use of. 



FORCING GLADIOLI UNDER GLASS 



For early forcing one should have early ripened bulbs, such as 

 have been grown in rather sandy soil. Growers of bulbs intended 

 for early forcing are beginning to pay special attention to such 

 stock. These plants have their buds pinched out as soon as they 

 appear and when the foliage dies down the bulbs are lifted and 

 properly cared for; such treatment makes better bulbs for forcing. 

 The first planting should be made in early December and while 

 there isn't a great deal of difference in the time of flowering between 

 these and such as are planted during early January, even five or six 

 days often means a whole lot in getting your flowers ready for market. 

 For the man who wishes to force only a few hundred bulbs at a time, 

 it hardly pays to take up valuable bench space for the first or second 

 planting. It is every bit as well to pot up into 4s and let them remain 

 below a bench in the Carnation house until the plants are from four 

 to six inches in height; but whether they have made that growth 

 or not, examine the pots once in awhile and plant out before they 

 become too potbound. 



Plant out on a sunny bench in double rows allowing about 

 four inches between the plants and twelve inches between the rows. 

 Almost any soil will do, and if you happen to have a run-down 

 Carnation bench or another where a crop has either failed or is 

 through, the soil in the benches will not have to be changed. But 

 don't make the mistake of planting Gladiolus bulbs in between your 

 Carnations, where a plant has died out or an opening appears. 

 Not only will the Carnations shade the Gladioli, but usually by the 

 time the Carnations are ready to be thrown out, the Gladioli will be 

 scattered all over the bench, not half filling it but making it im- 

 possible for you to use the space for anything else. 



