HOW? WHEN? WHERE? WHY? 



For better blooms from buibs 



GLADIOLUS 



Perhaps the most useful of all sum- 

 mer-flowering bulbs. Excellent to fill 

 in places where perennials have died, 

 or where annuals have failed. When 

 used in this way, need no care other 

 than that given the other garden 

 flowers. Do not use extra fertilizer; 

 too much food promotes production 

 of bulbils or offsets at the expense of 

 good bloom and of a sound center 

 bulb. 



Gladiolus bulbs can be planted at any- 

 time from earliest spring until July- 

 first (if sound bulbs are on hand that 

 late) . Before planting, treat bulbs for 

 ■thrips (ask for information ) . In light 

 soil; plant 5" to 6" deep. This will 

 help support the flower spike which 

 might otherwise fall over. In heavy 

 soil, 4" deep is correct. If planted too 

 shallow, more bulbils will be pro- 

 duced, but not as good flowers. Space 

 6" apart in rows 24" apart, though 

 for smaller, older sorts, 4" may be 

 enough room to allow. 



DAHLIAS 



Perhaps our most spectacular fall 

 flower, the Dahlia should not be 

 planted too early, as the flowers will 

 not do well in warm weather. Do not, 

 however, keep tubers later than June 

 1st, since by that time they usually 

 start shriveling and may be injured if 

 kept later. Dahlias need plenty of 

 potash and phosphorus. If you apply 

 the 25 to 30 lbs. of mixed fertilizers 

 recommended for general use before 

 planting, then additional feeding of 

 potash and phosphorus will still be 

 needed to produce firm tubers that 

 will keep over winter, healthier plants 

 and better bloom. 



Leaf hoppers which carry disease and 

 which also injure the plant by sucking 

 juice from the leaves and stems are 

 easily controlled by regular dusting or 

 spraying with D.D.T. Mulching with 

 straw, excelsior or some other airy, 

 light material will help keep the soil 

 moist and cool. Don't use leaves or 

 grass clippings that mat down and 

 pack — they hold in too much moisture. 



FANCY LEAVED CALADIUMS 



These spectacular foliage plants are 

 particularly valuable because they do 

 well in shade. Start them in a mix- 

 ture of half sand and half leaf mould 

 at a temperature of over 70°. When 

 the roots are well-developed and the 

 shoot is beginning to sho \ pot up in 

 rich soil. Set out in the garden when 

 weather is warm and settled. Ele- 



phant ears can be planted directly in 

 soil out of doors, but the weather 

 must be warm and settled, otherwise 

 they will rot. 



TUBEROSE 



This warm-weather bulb should be 

 planted in rich soil, with 2" of soil 

 over the tip after the weather is warm 

 and settled. Do not try to save the 

 bulbs: these must be grown by a 

 specialist if they are to bloom well. 

 Buy new bulbs each year. 



CANNAS 



"While carinas will tolerate cold soil, 

 they usually do not start growing un- 

 til hot weather comes. Plant when 

 the apple blossoms appear, in rich soil. 

 If planted in round beds, you will 

 need 37 plants for a 10 foot bed (18 

 plants on the outside, 12 in the second 

 row, six for the third row and one in 

 the center). A 7 foot bed will use 19 

 plants, with 12 plants on the outside 

 row, six for the middle row and one 

 plant in the center. 



LILIES 



Even the swamp lilies will not tolerate 

 wet feet; all must have perfect drain- 

 age. Yet they like a moist, cool soil. 

 This means that liberal quantities of 

 old well-decayed compost is almost 

 essential for lilies. They will not tol- 

 erate lime; your soil should have a 

 pH of 6.5 or below if you want to 

 grow good lilies. 



Regular spraying to control thrips 

 is essential wherever this insect 

 pest has been seen. If your flow- 

 ers failed to develop properly last 

 year, and if the leaves had greyish 

 tan patches on them, this means 

 you had thrips, and will have them 

 again unless you treat. D.D.T. has 

 proved a perfect control for this 

 pest. 



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