APRIL 19, 3906. 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



J 565 



THE GLADIOLUS. 



Culture and Care of Cut Spikes. 



The request for brief cultural instruc- 

 rons being frequently made, I present 

 it,e following suggestions and expe- 

 riences for selection and application to 

 Vi verse local conditions: 



The gladiolus is not exacting in its de- 

 .,:;inds upon the soil. I have grown it on 

 ,.".c block of land yearly for over fifteen 

 I ears, the only fertilizer used being well- 

 ,('tted stable manure and hard wood 

 • -Ijes applied before ploughing in the 

 , jtumn. No fertilizers are needed on 

 strong new soils as a rule. 



Profuse watering at intervals is de- 

 c jable where local peculiarities of soil 

 rni limited rainfall prevail during the 

 • cuson of active plant growth and bloom- 

 i.xg. A brief period of ripening before 

 ihe latter season is beneficial, if not too 

 i-ivere, as this hardens the plant tissues 

 ;:nd assures fliowers and spikes of in- 

 I ceased durability and quality. Exces- 

 sively succulent growth is not beneficial 

 to plant, flower or corm. 



For best results, plant in full ex- 

 posure to the sun, in locations having a 

 free circulation of air; avoid crowding 

 by other plants or overshading by trees, 

 buildings or hedges. Plant from two to 

 four inches deep, according to the size 

 of the corms, — matured corms never less 

 than four inches, — two to four inches 

 apart in double rows, which may be made 

 as close as twelve inches in beds or bor- 

 ders. The greatest satisfaction is se- 

 cured by growing several thousand for 

 daily cutting as the first flowers open. 



Dig the corms before the ground 

 freezes, cut off the stalk close to the 

 corm and store in a cool, dry place, in 

 baskets or shallow boxes. The old corm 

 may be removed a few weeks later when 

 convenient. It is not necessary to wait 

 until the plant dies down before harvest- 

 ing the corms, as a few weeks after 

 blooming is sufficient to mature both for 

 this purpose. 



As our whole interest centers in the 

 beautiful flowers of the gladiolus* — 

 which for beauty and diversity in the 

 whole range of color have no equals in 

 horticulture, and their durability when 

 cut for table and other decorative pur- 

 poses is unexcelled in their season : 

 — Here, it is well to be fully informed 

 as to the treatment that will insure the 

 best results. 



Cut the spike when the first flower 

 opens and place in water without over- 

 crowding. Remove the terminal buds 

 soon, as this checks stalk development 

 and throws the strength into the larger 

 and earlier maturing flowers. The end of 

 the stock should be shortened and the 

 water renewed daily with frequent cleans- 

 ing of the vases. In shortening the stalk 

 <ut diagonally, to insure free absorption 

 "f water by the spike, without the con- 

 vamination and obstruction, caused by 

 sediment, if cut at a right angle. 



The fact that blooming the spikes in 

 *he shade of room or piazza modifies the 

 iield colors, from bright shades and tints 

 to delicate flushes and shadings, and also 

 reduces the latter types to the faintest 

 tinge of color or white, is well known 

 to experienced growers. 



The advent of my new hybrids produc- 

 ing the most intense and deep shades of 

 violet, purple, crimson and scarlet, 

 hitherto unknown, as well as new yellows 

 ^nd other bright colors, makes it desir- 

 f^ble that these brilliant combinations be 

 preserved when the spikes are cut for 

 •lecorative purposes. 



Reports as to Easter trade speak of a considerable increase in the 

 volume of business done in all parts of the country. There is, however, 

 a divergence in the matter of the way stock cleaned out. Practically 

 everywhere the supplies of stock available wore greater than was ever 

 known before. The result was that prices could not be advanced so 

 much as at some previous Easters and in several instances there are re- 

 ports of larger supplies than could be moved without recourse to cheap 

 sales. This applies to both cut flowers and blooming plants and it is 

 probable that, while the total of sales increased, there was everywhere 

 much more stock to contribute to this result and the average price of 

 stock in all departments was rather less than usual, and in some localities 

 considerably less than had been expected. 



In the cut flower department roses were in most places in shortest 

 supply and brought more nearly normal Easter values. Bulbous stock, if 

 cut, was not readily salable in the face of adequate supplies of other flow- 

 ers. In many markets carnations were very abundant and sold below 

 usual Easter values, white going especially slow. The output of Rhine- 

 beck violets was greater than ever and more widely scattered, but the 

 growers toDk in little, if any, more money than a year ago. 



A notable feature was the increase in plant stocks. Weather condi- 

 tions operated to reduce supplies in certain lines, notably azaleas, but on 

 the other hand there was a great increase in the quantities of rambler 

 roses, spiraeas, etc., prepared for the occasion. Everybody had Crimson 

 Ramblers this year, and not all were sold. Easter lilies were in many 

 cases unlovely specimens. The good stock sold out clean, but the weak, 

 short, misshapen plants were left. 



Taken altogether, it may be said that Easter marked another ad- 

 vance of trade records. It is but natural that it should be so. The busi- 

 ness is broadening every day and we should expect steadily to increase 

 our sales and our profits; indeed, wc must do so if the great increase in 

 glass is to be justified. 



To ensure this most desirable result, 

 place the vases of these highly colored 

 types in the early morning sun for an 

 hour or two daily, preferably after reno- 

 vation and renewal of the water. This 

 practice will also enable the retention 

 and normal presentation of the original 

 delicate tints and shadings referred to 

 in the preceding paragraph, if so de- 

 sired. 



As it takes about three days after 

 cutting to bring the spikes into strong 

 blooming condition, this should be al- 

 lowed for in advance of the date of in- 

 tended use. The spikes can be shipped 

 a thousand miles by standing them on 

 end in suitable baskets or boxes. On ar- 

 rival, cut off the end of the stalk, and 

 remove the terminal buds before placing 

 in water; they will then revive quickly 

 and with proper care give pleasure for a 

 week or more. 



One of the causes of the popularity of 

 the gladiolus as a decorative flower, is 

 the fact that it has no perfume, as there 

 are few flowers used for this purpose 

 that are not distateful to some one, — 

 particularly in closed rooms, — either 

 from personal preference or painful asso- 

 ciation. 



Where the pollen proves irritating to 

 the tissues of the respiratory organs, as 

 in the case of hay-fever subjects, the 

 anthers may be easily pinched out dur- 

 ing the daily renovation, when the faded 

 florets are also removed. This removal 



of the anthers is desirable in the highly 

 colored types referred to, where the shed 

 pollen dulls the brilliancy of the petals 

 on which it may fall. H. H. Groff. 



THE APOTHEOSIS OF EASTER. 



Easter is the Great Day in the floral 

 calendar. It has been such for many 

 years, and it is annually occupying more 

 and more of the attention of the trade 

 for many weeks. Coming at the opening 

 of spring, when everyone welcomes flow- 

 ers in whatever form, it is but natural 

 that the wide-awake florist should make 

 the fullest possible use of the opportuni- 

 ties which the Easter festival presents. 

 But it should be borne in mind that the 

 one week of Easter business is not 

 capable of supporting an establishment 

 for half a year. 



There is a disposition on the part of 

 some producers to expect the Christmas 

 and Easter holidays to yield a harvest 

 which will render inconsequential the re- 

 turns at other times. "With the great in- 

 crease in glass whi^h has recently taken 

 place, especially in the middle west, the 

 markets are so readily supplied that even 

 the greatly increased demand at Easter 

 is cared for without difficulty. Any ef- 

 fort at accumulating stock only results 

 in glutting the market and breaking 

 prices. Any attempt to advance values 

 beyond those in keeping with the quality 

 and freshness of the stock immediately 



