November, 1919 
Tulips and their Culture. 
[Continued from page 111.] 
rieties of Tulips, all well adapted for 
( out-door bedding purposes and the cul- 
ture of all of them is very simple: 
The bulbs should be planted in the 
ground sometime between October and 
late December, (according to the lati- 
tude) about four inches deep and three 
or four inches apart, the earth well 
trodden and the bed protected with a 
layer of leaves, or other mulch. That 
is about all the care they require, and 
if they are planted as directed and at 
the proper time, they will send up in 
the spring fine foliage and beautiful 
flowers that are certain to command 
enthusiastic admiration. 
Because they are so very attractive, 
Tulips, are in general use in public 
parks for out-door exhibitions. The 
beautiful Public Garden of Boston was, 
until this spring, quite famous for the 
grand spring-time displays of Tulips 
staged about the monuments and other 
parts of the grounds. Visitors from far 
and near enjoyed the beautiful annual 
Tulip show of which Bostonians were 
exceedingly proud ; but this year their 
eyes were not gladdened by the ex- 
pected exhibition of magnificent Tu- 
lips, as on account of the scarcity and 
high price of the most desirable varie- 
ties of Tulip bulbs, the Park Commis- 
sioner had decided to utilize for spring 
planting of shrubbery, the vacant beds 
where in previous years 
“ Dutch Tulips from their beds, 
Flaunted their stately heads.” 
—Montgomery. 
In public parks and in the spacious 
show grounds of the wealthy, when 
one season of magnificent display is 
the first and only consideration, Tulip 
bulbs are promptly removed just as 
soon as the flowers begin to fade, and 
s some other seasonable flowering plants 
1 put into the bed. Bulbs thus lifted 
« before they have had time to ripen are 
valueless for a second season, making 
. it necessary to purchase new planting 
J; stock annually, an item of expense 
where plantings are made on such a 
' large scale, but in the average private 
- garden such an extravagant method 
: is not usual or justifiable, for if the 
bulbs are allowed to ripen properly, 
they can be depended upon to give ex- 
cellent results for years. Under favor- 
able conditions, bulbs of the Darwin 
strain, noted for their hardihood and 
perpetuity may be left in the ground 
three or four years before requiring re- 
setting. 
The bed in which the Tulips are left 
to mature may be used in which to 
grow Nasturtiums or some other an- 
nual of rapid growth. Asters that have 
- previously been started indoors prove 
very satisfactory for planting among 
the Tulips, for while the bulbs are 
storing up energy for the following 
/ear the Asters will be preparing for a 
glorious autumnal display of bloom. 
The American Gladiolus Society in- 
vites your membership. This oraniza- 
tion is entitled to the assistance of 
wery Gladiolus enthusiast. See their 
quarter page advertisement. 
Slower (Brower 
| Northwestern Peony 
and Iris Society. { 
The Mid-winter meeting of the 
Northwestern Peony & Iris Society will 
be held on the evening of Dec. 3rd, 
1919, at the Ryan Hotel, St. Paul, Minn. 
A business meeting for members only 
will be held at 7:15 P. M., when election 
of officers for the coming year will be 
held. 
Commencing at 8 P. M. an evenings 
program is in the course of prepara- 
tion that will be of considerable inter- 
est to all interested in the Peony and 
Iris. This will consist of an illustrated 
lecture, in natural colors, on the 
Peony, papers on both the Peony and 
Iris also a round-table discussion in 
which anyone present desiring to par- 
ticipate will be welcome. We antici- 
pate an enjoyable and profitable eve- 
ning from what we know of the pro- 
gram already arranged. 
A detailed report of the meeting will 
appear in these columns. 
W. F. Christman, Sec’y. 
New England Fair. 
There was plenty of competition 
at the New England Fair, Labor Day, in 
the Gladiolus section, the prizes offered 
by W. D. Ross bringing out five entries 
for the “ best display.” 
Mr. B. Hammond Tracy was awarded 
first and staged a fine exhibit of flow- 
ers in baskets. Mr. Edgar M. Wilson, 
second, and C. W. Brown, third. 
For collection of 10 new unnamed 
varieties, H. E. Meader won first and 
C. W. Brown, second. 
On 20 vases single spikes, B. Ham- 
mond Tracy won first, A. J. Jenkins, 
second ; Edgar M. Wilson, third. 
Twelve spikes White — Edgar M. Wil- 
son first, with Europa; B. H. Tracy, 
second, with Europa ; H. E. Meader, 
third, with Lilywhite. 
Twelve spikes Pink — Edgar M. Wil- 
son, first ; C. W. Brown, second ; H. E. 
Meader, third. 
Twelve spikes Yellow— B. Hammond 
Tracy, first, with Schwaben ; Edgar M. 
Wilson, second, with Golden King', C. 
W. Brown, third, with Klondyke Im- 
proved. 
Twelve spikes Blue— Ernest Ad- 
shead, first ; B. H. Tracy, second ; C. 
W. Brown, third. 
In the Dahlia section, J. K. Alexander 
carried off the lion’s share of the prizes, 
winning first for display and first for 
20 large flowers and first for 20 Cactus. 
C. W. Brown. 
Inadvertently we failed to give The 
Wisconsin State Horticultural Society 
proper credit for the Thimbleberry 
illustration on Page 101 of our October 
issue. This illustration was loaned us 
by our good friend, Frederick Crane- 
field, and originally appeared in Wis- 
consin Horticulturist, and we regret 
exceedingly the oversight in not giving 
proper credit at the time of publica- 
tion. 
117 
Fifty Years Acquaint- 
ance with the Gladiolus. 
[ Written expressly for The flower Grower. ] 
BY HENRY C. ECKERT. 
( Continued from September issue.) 
Continuing my observations on grow- 
ing Gladiolus bulbs from bulblets: I re- 
ceived a letter from an Eastern grower 
several years ago, stating that grow- 
ing Gladiolus bulbs from bulblets was 
a gamble, and from my experience in 
that line he was right. Two varieties 
I never had any success in growing 
from bulblets, are Alice Carey and 
Loveliness, if I can make ten out of a 
hundred grow I do well. Other kinds, 
Mrs. F. King, Lily Lehmann, etc., will 
come out well one season, to be fol- 
lowed next season by an utter failure, 
while other varieties, Willy Wigman, 
Halley and a good many more will be 
a full crop every season. The most 
successful experience in bulblet grow- 
ing I had this year was with Panama. 
I have two strains of this kind, one 
American grown, the other imported 
from Holland two years ago ; the flow- 
ers and bulbs are identical, mix them 
up and no expert can tell them apart. 
But the plant is different, it is a stronger 
grower, with taller luxuriant foliage, 
very vigorous, forces easier and it 
comes out of the ground a week ahead 
of the true American Panama. From 
three pints of this Holland strain, I 
raised 1640 bulbs of good size measur- 
ing from one-half to one inch in di- 
ameter, and will say here, that I have 
no stock for sale of this strain at pres- 
ent. Recently I read an article in a 
horticultural trade journal, recommend- 
ing to beginners of small means, to 
start with bulblets but I would not give 
this advice, but would recommend to 
start with small bulbs, they are sure to 
grow, and if you have favorable 
weather, one-half inch bulbs will be 
one inch and over in one season. 
We have in Southern Illinois not the 
best weather to raise Gladiolus bulbs, 
and can never compete with Northern 
growers, and I do not expect to make 
a fortune in this line, and for an in- 
come will depend on the sales of flower 
spikes. But one must have them early 
and late and keep out of the mid-season 
rush when flower- returns are below 
production costs. I warn the beginner 
not to expect 1000 flower spikes from 
1000 bulbs planted. If 75% produce 
salable spikes one does very well in- 
deed. I have planted in a small way a 
good many new varieties the last four 
years, but out of a hundred only four 
will, in my opinion, make a mark in 
the future flower trade, and I depend 
on the old reliable kinds, America, Hal- 
ley, Lucreiia, Mrs. Francis King and a 
few others. In conclusion about selling 
flowers, will say that you must study 
the markets, and not ship to an over- 
filled market. 
(To be concluded.) 
If you know of a friend to whom you 
think The Flower Grower would be 
an assistance and benefit, send us his 
name and we will submit sample copies. 
