68 
Where there is more than one variety in the ship¬ 
ment we like small sacks made of cloth. If one is 
near a sack factory, missprint flour sacks can usually 
be purchased at a low price and these can be made 
into small sacks of several sizes. The wooden nursery 
labels which nurserymen commonly use in labeling 
plants and trees are useful for labels for these sacks. 
We like boxes made of corrugated pasteboard. These 
are stronger than ordinary pasteboard, will not crush 
easily and will give some protection from changing tem¬ 
peratures. If several thicknesses of newspaper are used 
in wrapping both inside and outside the box, the bulbs 
will go through a temperature a little below freezing, 
but I have received so many packages with the contents 
frozen that I do not like winter shipments, especially 
for the high-priced bulbs and bulblets, although the 
bulblets will not freeze quite so quickly as the bulbs. 
A good strong quality of wrapping paper should be 
used and strong string. And the package should be 
wrapped neatly. The purchaser is apt to judge the 
contents by the appearance of the package. And well 
he may, for the use of care here indicates care as one 
of the traits of the grower. 
SEEDS AND CROSSING 
One of the most interesting phases of gladiolus 
growing is the production of new varieties from hand- 
pollenized seeds. Bulblets come true to the mother 
bulb, but seedlings are always different. As a general 
rule the seedlings are inferior to the parents. How¬ 
ever, many will be equally as good as the best named 
varieties. And out of many thousands, one may be 
