THE GLADIOLUS 



makes it a favorite with the amateur who has 

 only a limited amount of time to spend among 

 the flowers. It is a plant that any one can grow, 

 and it is a plant that will grow almost anywhere. 

 It is one of the few plants that seem almost able 

 to take care of themselves. Beyond putting the 

 corms in the ground, in spring, and an occasional 

 weeding as the plant develops, very little atten- 

 tion is required. 



To secure the best effect from it, the Gladiolus 

 should be planted in masses. Single specimens 

 are far less satisfactory. One must see fifty or 

 a hundred plants in a bed ten or fifteen feet long 

 to fully appreciate what it is capable of doing. 



The time to plant it is in May, after the soil 

 has become warm. Nothing is gained by earlier 

 planting. 



The bed should be spaded to the depth of a 

 foot, at least. Then the soil should be worked 

 over until it is fine and light. A liberal quantity 

 of some good fertilizer should be added to it. 

 Commercial fertilizers seem to suit it well, but the 

 use of barnyard manure gives excellent results, 

 and I would prefer it, if obtainable. 



The corms should be put about four inches be- 

 low the surface, care being exercised at the time 

 of planting to see that they are right side up. It 



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