84 
Ofye Slower (Brower 
Queries and Answers Department. 
“ All questions asked in good faith and which are of general interest will have careful attention. 
The full name and address of the writer must be given, but not for publication.” 
Building Up Sandy Soil for Gladioli. 
To the Editor 
Please advise the best method of applying fertilizers 
to Gladioli. If pulverized sheep manure or good 
potato fertilizer is used how much should be applied 
per acre? Should it be put on in one or more appli- 
cations where the soil is rather a weak pure sandy 
soil almost free from humus ? Should it be applied 
in the row or broadcast on the surface? If in the 
row should it be put under or above the bulbs, and 
will it injure the bulbs by direct contact? E. A. B. 
Answer : — Pulverized sheep manure or 
potato fertilizer is all right enough as a 
fertilizer, but it will not take the place of 
humus in the soil, and your first step should 
be to provide humus. You can doubtless 
buy stable manure by the load, and if you 
cannot get it well rotted buy it as you can 
get it, and make a compost of it by piling up 
in a flat top pile so that the rains will leach 
through it and keep it from burning or heat- 
ing. Manure handled in this way and forked 
over twice or three times during the year 
will be in good shape in from six to twelve 
months from the time of composting. Then 
with the pulverized sheep manure or potato 
fertilizer you will get satisfactory results. 
In fact, if the manure is grain feed manure 
most largely, you will not need the potato 
fertilizer, and the pulverized sheep manure 
will be only valuable to stimulate early 
growth. 
Well rotted manure can be applied to the 
ground any time and in any way convenient, 
but if manure only partly rotted is used it 
should be put on as early in the fall as pos- 
sible after the crops are harvested. It is 
best to plow the ground first and apply the 
manure on top, but if it is desired to increase 
the humus contents of the soil as rapidly as 
possible, the manure may be applied before 
plowing and plowed deeply, say ten inches 
deep. Unless the ground freezes deeply this 
manure should be fairly well rotted by 
springtime and then harrowing with a disc 
harrow to a depth of six to eight inches will 
be all that is needed. If well rotted manure 
is also available it is best applied in the 
spring before harrowing. 
Manure applied in the fall can be put on 
to a depth of one to two inches. It should 
be evenly spread to plow under. Well rotted 
manure put on to a depth of one inch would 
be sufficient for one application. 
If using pulverized sheep manure best re- 
sults may be had by scattering it by hand in 
the trenches before planting, but it may be 
scattered broadcast along the rows. If ap- 
plied in the trenches it is well to mix it 
with the soil to the depth of about one inch. 
If applied on the surface it should be culti- 
vated in as deeply as practicable with a 
horse cultivator or wheel hoe. 
While pulverized sheep manure and com- 
mercial fertilizer may not damage bulbs if it 
comes in contact with them it is better to 
mix with the soil as above suggested. 
No soil can be made to produce satisfac- 
tory crops unless pretty well built up in 
humus, even with the application of consid- 
erable commercial fertilizer, or pulverized 
sheep manure. The soil drys out so quickly 
that growth stops very soon after each rain. 
Hence it is necessary to increase the humus 
in the soil as quickly as possible. 
Commercial fertilizer or pulverized sheep 
manure may be applied at the rate of about 
twenty pounds per hundred feet of row to 
good advantage. A less quantity of com- 
mercial fertilizer will answer. In applying 
concentrated fertilizers of any kind extreme 
care must be used not to apply it too heavily. 
It is much better to use small quantities each 
year. 
You will find it extremely difficult and 
slow to build up your sandy soil so that it 
will produce good crops unless you put a 
considerable amount of time and expense 
into it. We speak from experience as our 
garden was originally a rather weak, lean 
sand, besides we made it very irregular in 
texture by scraping off top soil in places to 
grade around our house when building. 
After eight or nine years we still do not have 
the soil as uniformly built up as we could 
wish, but it could have been done in a 
shorter time, perhaps, by giving it more 
time and putting more expense on it than we 
wished to do. 
Madison Cooper. 
Planting and Storing Dahlias. 
To the Editor 
I have heard that when Dahlia roots are set out, 
only one should be planted and that one having an 
''eye.” I cannot find an “eye” on any of my tubers. 
They all look alike to me, just a bunch of them hang- 
ing to the old flower stalk. 
Can you explain so that I can get the idea? 1 have 
always set out the whole bunch because I could not 
feel sure which tuber had the “eye” on. Are the 
others no good and should they be thrown away ? 
Do you think it best to plant tubers on their sides, 
and should they be stored for winter upside down ? 
MRS. M. A. W. 
Answer:— It is probable that a Dahlia ex- 
pert could tell about where the "eyes” were 
located and where a sprout could be expected, 
but the common way of locating the "eyes” 
is by the sprouts. A Dahlia clump is usually 
divided before setting, and, after the sprouts 
start, and in this way it is easy to cut the 
clump so as to have an "eye” on each tuber. 
We commonly use a pruning knife for the 
cutting purpose, as then if care is used in cut- 
ting, an "eye” can be left on a larger number 
of tubers than if the clump is divided rather 
roughly. 
Some growers claim better results by sys- 
tematically sprouting the tubers with long 
sprouts before planting and in every case it 
is assumed that the sprouts will start before 
the planting season. T ubers without an "eye” 
as we understand it are useless for ordinary 
planting purposes. 
Tubers are best planted on their sides and 
fully five to six inches deep. 
For storage purposes during the winter it 
is recommended that the clump should be 
placed upside down. Some store in sand, 
others only in boxes or barrels, without pack- 
ing material but protected from the daylight. 
WHIM 
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING. 
Five lines (about 40 words) #1.00 per insertion. Ad- 
ditional lines 15c. each. 
DAHLIAS. 
W ESTERN BULBS to new customers : One each 
Dahlias. Souv. Douzon, giant red, dec.; Grand 
Duchess Marie, pink and white Cactus ; Golden Gate 
Bronze Cactus; Golden West, very fine yellow, dec.; 
H. Budde, long stemmed red Peony ; J. Charmett, large 
rose-pink, dec.; Rhiengau, fine red hyb-cactus, for $2; 
300 others, domestic and imported. Catalogue. 
Trade List. 
Carlson Dahlia Gardens, Boulder, Colo. 
'T'O NEW CUSTOMERS-Six fine standard Dahlias. 
my selection, value $2.00. for $1.75. 6 novelties, value 
$5.25,’ for $4.75. Our Dahlias are grown under ideal 
conditions, without artificial stimulants, which force 
bulbs at the expense of strength. We grow over 300 
varieties. The majority of which is listed in our cata- 
logue— Free. Also wholesale list. 
Carlson Dahlia Gardens, Boulder, Colo. 
May, 1920 
GLADIOLI 
T^HE CHOICEST OF THE CHOICE standard varie- 
x ties and novelties. American Indian. Orange Glory, 
$5 doz. Blue Jay, Rochester White, Queen of Whites, 
$2.50 doz. Best Violet, Mary Fennell, Youell’s Favor- 
ite, $2 doz. Europa, Loveliness, Pink Perfection, 
Pride of Goshen, $1.50 doz. Large Buff, Miss Lucile, 
Pendleton, Niagara, White King, $1 doz. Peace, 
Panama, Baron Hulot, 75c. doz. America, Chicago 
White, Francis King, (Prim. Hybrids, Kunderdi). 
Prize Mixture, 50c. doz. postpaid. Three of a varietv 
at dozen rate. Send for price list. 
F. A. Wetzel, Griffiths St., Syracuse, N. Y. 
T>( JLBI.ETS — 1000 lots, 50c, 3000 lots, $1, all postpaid 
^ Independence, a pink, that makes good wherever 
grown. Arthur C. Perrin, 1112-E~18th St., N. 
Portland, Oregon. 
17 ST ABLISH EI) Grower offers true to 
■*-' as follows : 
name 
Gladioli 
1st 
2nd 
3rd 
America, F. King . 
$2.75 
$2.25 
$1.75 
Panama, Princepine 
. 3.91) 
2.90 
2.40 
Brenchleyensis . ..... 
2.50 
2.00 
1.75 
Cracker Jack.. .. 
2.75 
2.00 
Chi. White, Gl. of Hoi 
. . 4.00 
3.00 
2.50 
Europa, Liebesfeuer. __ ... 
7.00 
5.50 
4.25 
Emp. India, Hulot.. .. __ 
4.00 
3.50 
2.75 
Ida Van, Kund. Glory 
4.00 
3.50 
2.75 
Lehmann, Pendleton 
5.00 
4.25 
3.50 
Niagara, R. Torch 
5.00 
4.00 
3.25 
Pacific, Baltimore _. 
5.75 
4.75 
3.75 
Sulphur Queen .... 
3.00 
Mrs. Watt, Geo. Paul 
. 4.00 
3.50 
3.00 
Best sorts mixed 
2.75 
2.25 
1.75 
All mixed . . . . 
2.00 
1.75 
Butterfly 
. 6.00 
5.00 
5.25 
Brown Bulb Ranch, Capitola, Calif. 
THIRST SIZE Gladiolus Nigricans. Best very dark 
1 maroon, strong grower, large flower, at $1 per doz., 
$6 per hundred, $40 per thousand. Niagara, Panama, 
Crackerjack, at 85c. per doz., $5 per hundred. Many 
other sorts at low prices, also Dahlias at $1.50 per doz., 
varieties my selection. Hardy Phlox, Iris, and other 
hardy plants. E. R. Macomber, 44 Leonard Street, 
Woodfords, Me. 
PAST HARTFORD GLADIOLUS CO.-Our 1920 
catalogue of Dahlias and Gladioli for the asking. 
E. M. Smith, Pres. & Mgr., 65 Olmsted Street, 
East Hartford, Conn. 
CMALL SURPLUS LOTS in the following varieties, 
^ America, Pendleton, Wales, Herada, Peace, Fennell 
and Glory of Holland, send for list and extra prices to 
close out odds and ends. F. C. Hornberger, 
Hamburg, N.Y. 
IRISES 
T IBERTY IRIS- Best varieties for garden or cutting. 
•*-' Write for special trade prices for fall 1920. 
N. A. Hallauer, Ontario, N. Y. 
H ERE'S THE IRIS bargain you are waiting for. 
Twenty-five finest mixed, at least six sorts, no 
poor ones, and including Giant Pallida, for $1.50 pre- 
paid. May delivery. P. L. Ward, Plantsman, Hills- 
dale, Mich. 
MISCELLANEOUS 
DOPPY OF FLANDERS -The beautiful crimson 
T Poppy that blooms on the graves of our men in 
France. Packet 15c, 2 for 25c, 10 for $1.00. Directions 
on packet. Imported seed. Whitney’s 235 Main St., 
Lewiston, Maine. 
'‘THE colors and varieties of Asters I grow are second 
-*■ to none and better than most. To convince you 
will send 50 mixed, or all one color, or six each of 
eight best sorts, for $1.25, prepaid— big, strong trans- 
planted stock. Delivery latter part of May, but order 
now. If you grow your own, send 25c. for a packet of 
new and rare Asters, mixed, strictly fresh seed. 
Everything prepaid. P. L. Ward, Plantsman, Hills- 
dale, Mich. 
T ANDSCAPE GARDENING— A practical course by 
•L'mail. Colored illustrations. Beautify Home 
Grounds. Endorsed by leading Nurserymen and 
Florists. Write for Prospectus. American Land- 
scape School, 2 N, Newark. N. Y. 
T ABELS— Patent, paper, trees, shrub or rose label. 
Colors: white, green, blue and salmon. Plain or 
printed. A cure for those afflicted with label troubles. 
Samples. Ohio Nursery Co., Elyria, Ohio. 
'T'lGRIDIAS— Fine, healthy home grown bulbs, 35c. 
r per doz.; $2.50 per hundred. Also a limited num- 
ber Ismene Calathina. White Peruvian Lily, extra 
large blooming bulbs 20c. each, 3 for 50c. 
Jos. A. Eibel, P. O. Box 268. 
Lancaster, Pa. 
OON'T forget the vegetable garden! See here, 12 
•D early tomato, 12 late tomato, 24 early cabbage, 
12 sweet pepper plants, regular value, 95c., for only 
75c., prepaid. All are the finest sorts I know of. P. 
L. Ward, Plantsman, Hillsdale, Mich. 
