IN CALIFORNIA 117 



the state, Lilium Humboldtii, would prove a valuable 

 addition to any collection. 



GLADIOLI 



None of the old garden favorites have stood the 

 test of time better or have kept up to a more satis- 

 factory standard than the gladioli, and today they 

 are more popular than at the time of their introduc- 

 tion. In all parts of the earth specialists are striv- 

 ing for new colors, forms, habits, etc., but in the 

 meantime the good old garden strains have not been 

 forgotten, and we have today a really gorgeous col- 

 lection of color easily within the reach of all. 



Gladioli are not particular as to soil, thriving 

 fairly well in any, and they are just as cosmopolitan 

 regarding climate. In general they seem to thrive 

 best in light, friable, sandy loam, though in such a 

 soil frequent cultivation and irrigation will insure 

 success. The incorporation of well-rotted stable 

 manure and wood ashes will go far toward making 

 a strong growth with flowers of good size and tex- 

 ture. The application of a fertilizer strong in nitro- 

 gen caused the author's gladioli to run up to six 

 feet in height, making staking necessary, and pro- 

 duced a succulent growth quite lacking in firmness. 

 A lot planted two weeks later, with vegetable ashes 

 only applied, produced a fine dark green growth, 

 very sturdy in habit and less than half as tall as 

 the first lot. Plant your bulbs early as possible for 

 the main crop January is best and for later plant- 

 ings choose each time those farthest started into 

 new growth, though best results are obtained by 

 planting a month before the shoots will start. Put 

 bulbs at least four inches deep in soil. Copious 

 waterings at regular intervals are necessary. 



Everybody loves to have plants that originated, 



