Cultural Directions 
THE Gladiolus is a flower of easy 
culture and does well in any 
soil, but should be planted in 
full exposure to the sun. You will be 
disappointed in results obtained by plant- 
ing in rose or peony beds, where the 
foliage gives too much shade to the 
roots. They will do well planted in 
the borders of these beds or in front of 
shrubbery. Many of the best varieties 
produce small bulbs and in buying a 
mixture you will find it much better when 
the size of the bulbs varies to a consider- 
able degree. The largest bulbs do not 
always give the best results. It is essential 
that the bulb should be of blooming age 
rather than size. Soil should be well 
prepared in the early spring with a good 
coating of agricultural lime and bone 
meal, thoroughly worked into the soil, 
but fresh stable manure should never be 
used except where the ground could be 
manured the previous fall and well 
worked over in the spring before planting. 
The various ways in which the 
Gladiolus can be planted make it one 
of the most showy and attractive garden 
flowers. Planted in round, oblong or 
square beds, planting bulbs from four to 
six inches apart, so that they can be 
weeded and hand-hoed, they will give 
a wealth of color not equaled by any 
other flower. 
Plantings for cut flowers should be 
made in rows eighteen inches apart, 
planting bulbs three inches apart in the 
row, covering from four to six inches, 
