Summer Flower-Roots for Present Planting G ^kerr 
PROVIDE NOW FOR THE GREAT DISPLAYS OF LATE SUMMER AND FALL— HOW TO MANAGE FOR SUCCESSIONS 
OF BLOOM TILL THE TIME OF FROST— PRACTICAL COMBINATIONS 
T HE advent of early summer brings 
with it fresh opportunities for the 
garden enthusiast, notwithstanding 
the fact that too commonly the 
belief exists (or at all events if not the belief, 
the practice) that by early May the whole 
garden planting of the season is complete. 
It is true, and it is not true. Of course, the 
forehanded gardener who starts his seeds 
in February or March, and the man who takes 
advantage of the greenhouse opportunities for 
getting an extra early start in the youngest 
days of the year, will by this time have accom- 
plished a great deal toward the ultimate 
beauty of the garden at the present season. 
But even he, with all his forehandedness 
and preparedness, cannot force events out 
of their place, and with the advent of May • 
and on through that month into June, 
there is a new field of planting activity 
with summer flowering bulbs and flowering 
roots for late bloom. Of the standbys of 
the summer and fall garden, which must re- 
ceive attention at this time, there are three 
of outstanding superiority — the Gladiolus, 
the Dahlia, and the new large 
flowered hardy Chrysanthemum. 
Added to these, of course, there 
are those of lesser importance, 
such as the Begonia, Caladium, 
the Tuberose, Amaryllis, besides 
hosts of others. And last, and 
by no means least, is the Canna. 
To begin with the end, the 
Canna has a fitting place in the 
summer garden. A misused and 
a maligned plant perhaps, hard 
to use effectively in some in- 
stances, or (would it not be more 
correct to say), it is so effective 
when used that it has a danger of 
overbalancing its associates. 1 he 
modern Canna, with individual 
flowers, taking on almost the pro- 
portions of a man’s hand, are 
vastly superior to the old-time 
Indian Shot as to be hardly thought of 
in the same moment. The Canna is a 
plant that may be grown in any situa- 
tion, provided it has water. The large 
flowered modem hybrids which have 
been given us by the work of Mr. Antoine 
Wintzer, are large-flowered, the trusses 
immense, and the plants can be had in a 
range of heights and in a rich gradation of 
color from white, through pink and yellow 
to crimson. 
The present month is the summer garden- 
er’s opportunity of the planting of these 
and associated roots, and planting done now 
and next month will insure flowers from July 
until frost. 
THE GLADIOLUS 
Each year sees an increased activity among 
lovers of the Gladiolus. More varieties are 
introduced, more variations of color are 
noticed, and the improvement of form and 
habit in the inflorescence is marked. This 
summer bulb is indeed a flower in a million 
for the gardens of America. It is one in 
which every gardener can indulge his fancy. 
The connoisseur, the seeker for rarities, has 
all the scope for extravagance that he may 
wish; while at the same time the sternly 
practical man, who wishes the most for the 
smallest outlay, can surely find material to 
satisfy his desires. Some varieties there are 
that will flower nine weeks from date of plant- 
ing, and by making successional plantings at 
intervals of two weeks, blooms may be had in 
the garden until frost brings down the curtain. 
The Gladiolus will give the best account of 
itself when planted in clumps among other 
subjects, as in the herbaceous border or in 
the shrubbery. That is far better than setting 
them out in military like rows which only 
seems to accentuate what natural stiffness 
they possess. When planting in mixture 
with other subjects, it is well, however, to 
observe that they are not planted in close 
proximity to subjects which are gross feeders 
course, being set 3 to 6 inches deep, according 
as to whether phe soil is heavy or light. Then, 
sow annuals broadcast according to fancy. 
The seed of these annuals will be lightly raked 
into the soil, except in the case of Nastur- 
tiums which must be planted one inch deep. 
Later the seedling annuals must be thinned 
out rigorously to perhaps nine inches apart. 
Additional batches of Gladiolus can then be 
planted in here at fortnightly intervals until 
mid-July, which will insure a continuous dis- 
play of bloom from the bed. Grown in this 
way and allowed to finish their flowering on 
the plant, the flowering spike must be cut 
down as the last flowers fade in order to 
give room for succession and to main- 
tain a neat appearance. When cutting, 
leave as many leaves as possible on the 
plant in order to perfect the new bulb 
which is the secret of next season’s vigor. 
1 he variety of Gladiolus is almost in- 
finite, but I may be allowed to name a 
few as suggesting appropriate combina- 
tions with the better known annuals. 
Halley — a Gladiolus with flowers of 
salmony-pink, blooms within 
two months from date of 
planting, looks well on a carpet 
of golden flowers of the Cali- 
fornia Poppy. It also makes a 
good combination with the yel- 
low-flowered Gladiolus Niag- 
ara, which variety however 
requires two weeks longer to 
produce its flowers and must be 
allowed for by earlier planting 
if simultaneous bloom is de- 
sired. I he variety America, 
with its massive spikes of deli- 
cate pink, combines well with 
Niagara; both flower ten weeks 
from planting. Another charm- 
ing picture that I obtained last year 
was the Baron Hulot and Golden Queen 
Gladiolus, planted in a bed with a carpet 
of white Petunia or white Drummond 
Phlox. Gladiolus Dieulafoy and Pan- 
ama are an appropriate combination 
with Sweet Alyssum Little Gem. 
I append a list of well-known var- 
ieties with approximate flowering 
times for each from date of planting, 
from which data the individual will 
be able to work out schemes to fit 
his particular desires. 
The Peony-flowered Dahlia, the newest type of this popular 
flower, is well adapted to garden decoration. The flowers 
are held well above the foliage 
or among the roots of shrubs which are liable 
to make an undue toll upon the fertility of the 
soil and to the detriment of the Gladiolus. 
Happy effects may be obtained by planting 
Gladiolus in conjunction with annuals of 
long season, such as Petunia, Eschscholtzia, 
Phlox, Sweet Alyssum, or dwarf Nasturtium. 
A bed of annuals and Gladiolus in mixture is 
satisfactory for a late planted garden. First 
of all, plant over the area with Gladiolus 
bulbs 15 inches apart. These bulbs, of 
America 
Raron Hulot 
Cracker Jack 
Golden Queen 
Halley 
Jean Dieulafoy 
Mrs. k 
King 
. Watt 
Niagara 
Panama 
Rosy Spray 
Scribe 
TIME FROM 
PLANTING 
UNTIL 
FLOWERING 
10 weeks 
9 
9 
9 
fine pink 
dark violet blue 
rich crimson 
light yellow with carmine blotch 
salmon-pink 8 
primrose, chocolate blotch 9 
light scarlet 1 1 
w’ine-red 1 1 
canary yellow 10 
fine white IO 
deep pink 12 
white and rose 1 
light rose flaked red II 
pink marked crimson 10 
Of the more recent developments of the 
Gladiolus, attention is focussed favorably 
on what is known as Primulinus Hybrids, 
which introduce us to a series of shadings of 
yellow flushed with pink and rose. The flowers 
are daintily proportioned and gracefully set 
along the spike in a somewhat looser arrange- 
ment than is characteristic of the older style 
of Gladiolus. As cut flowers for decorative 
225 
