lahe RURAL NEW-YORKER 
721 
Garden Notes 
Growing the Gladiolus 
The Gladiolus is one of the easiest 
of show flowers to grow with which we 
are familiar. Almost anyone with a 
plot of good soil and good tubers, who 
can use a hoe, can at least have fair 
flowers. To grow the long spikes we find 
offered for sale 'by the florist requires 
careful culture, and attention to all nec¬ 
essary demands of the roots from early 
Spring to late Autum'n, and even through 
the Winter. The first essential is a well- 
drained, well-enriched plot of the desired 
size. The soil should be well manured 
or filled with humus, though manure 
should not be applied in the Spring, bet¬ 
ter results being obtained by a heavy ap¬ 
plication in the Fall or early Winter and 
plowed under as early in the spring as 
it is possible to work the soil, not be¬ 
fore the soil is dry enough however or 
the loss will be much greater than the 
gain. A liberal application of a good 
brand of fertilizer is also beneficial. 
After plowing work the soil thoroughly 
to a depth of four inches or more, and 
if a large quantity are grown the rows 
are usually spaced about 30 inches apart, 
to allow cultivation Avith a horse. The 
bulbs are set about three to four inches 
deep and six to eight inches apart in the 
row. This deep planting gives quite a 
little support to the spike, though ad¬ 
ditional support by staking or running 
twine lengthwise of the row is neceasary 
for all tall growing varieties. Good, 
large bulbs also are essential to success. 
The first start should be made with first- 
size bulbs only, which, if well cared for, 
will make a good flower spike, another 
first size bulb for next season planting, 
and a number of cormebs that can be 
sown to increase the stock of the variety. 
Second-size bulbs are much cheaper, but 
are actually worth considerably less than 
the difference in the price between the 
two sizes. 
After planting thorough and continuous 
cultivation is necessai-y throughout the 
entire season. This applies especially 
to the period after the flower is cut, 
which is the time that the bulb is ma¬ 
tured for next season’s planting, and 
the more favorable this period is to 
growth the better the bulb will be. Do 
not cut the flower with too long a stem; 
three leaves at least should be left on 
the stem or at maturity the b'ull) is 
likely to die outright. After a rather 
severe frost the bulbs should be care¬ 
fully harvested. If the soil is loose and 
sandy the small cormels will probably be 
quite numerous and rather easy to gather, 
though in heavy clay soil they will be 
hard to save and a careless digger will 
loose the larger part of them. 
Store the bulbs in a thoroughly dry, 
well-ventilated, darkened building or cel¬ 
lar, where frost never enters. Forty is 
a good degree of temperature for the stor¬ 
age building. Any time that it is con¬ 
venient during the Winter the bulbs may 
be separated from the old stem and sorted 
to several sizes. The small cormels can 
be sown in loose soil in Spring rather 
thickly in the row, similar to peas, and 
kept clear of weeds during the Summer. 
The second season they should be sown 
again not quite so thick. Some of the 
larger bulbs of this sowing may be se¬ 
lected the following Spring for medium 
size flowers, but if good size flowering 
bulbs are Avanted the flowers this third 
season should be cut very short and most 
of the foliage allowed to remain on the 
bulb. To keep up a supply of flowering 
bulbs it is necessary to grow these small 
bulbs on or purchase new stock, every 
four or five years as the old bulbs in 
spite of their yearly reproduction appear 
to loose vigor after a few years planting. 
Regular irrigation is very beneficial 
during dry weather. We find the Skin¬ 
ner system ideal for this purpose. Gladioli 
sold fairly well last season, due to the 
fact that about eight million Holland 
bulbs that were sold in this country did 
not reach here. This caused a large in¬ 
crease in the price of bulbs, and the 
variety America, which several years ago 
I bought for $6 per 1,000, are selling 
at $25 now. Panama and some others, 
newer varieties, are selling from $30 to 
$4.5, though the market this season may 
not be as good as last year, as one large 
cargo h'as reached New York from Hol¬ 
land and others are on the Avay. A few 
years ago the prevailing price was $1 to 
$1..50 per 100 for fine flowers, this price 
being so low that many growers offered 
their bulbs for sale as low as five dol¬ 
lars per 1,000. Last season prices real¬ 
ized an average of $2.,50 to $5 per 100, 
according to variety and quality, the ear¬ 
lier flo'wers alAvays bringing the best 
price. We have had no experience with 
disease, but last season the black aster 
beetle ruined a large proportion of our 
flowers. The best commercial varieties 
follow: America is the best all-around 
variety, a pleasing shade of pink, easy to 
groAV, and a good reproducer. Augusta, 
though an old one, is a good white. Glory 
of Holland, ivory white. All Avhites are 
poor reproducers. Panama, one of the 
finest varieties on the market. Larger 
than America and darker in shade. 
Halley is the best early, maturing ahead 
of America, and is a good reproducer. 
Pink Perfection is another beautiful and 
valuable variety. Niagara is exceptio'nally 
good, though a good reproducer. Mrs. 
Frances King is a fine strong grower 
and a good reproducer. Peace is an im¬ 
mense white with a touch of carmine in 
the lower petals. It is a very beautiful 
and valuable variety. 
Pennsylvania. et.mer j. weaver. 
Summer Care of Easter Lily 
Will you tell me how to take care of 
an Easter lily, so that it will bloom next 
season ? u. n. p. 
Bain bridge, N. Y. 
When blooming is over leav'e the lily 
in the pot, giving full sun and plenty of 
water to keep it growing. As the weather 
becomes warmer it is a good plan to 
plunge the pot outside; that is, sink it 
in the soil to the depth of the pot. A 
shovelful of coal ashes under the pot 
will prevent the entry of earthworms 
through the drainage bole. The lily 
should be kept growing by regular Avater- 
iug until about August, when growth will 
gradually cease, and the foliage Avill be¬ 
come yelloAV and Avither. Water should 
then be gradually withheld, as the top 
dries off, and Avhen the stems are dead the 
pot should be stored in the cellar where 
it will not dry out entirely, and be left 
there until time to repot. In October 
shake the dry earth off the bulb, and re- 
l)ot in a clean pot,t using two-thirds good 
garden soil and one-third well-rotted ma¬ 
nure. I*ut broken crocks in the bottom 
for drainage, and set the bulb in the cen¬ 
ter of the pot, with two inches of clear 
space above it; just barely cover with 
soil, ilore soil is added later in Avhlch 
the stem roots run. Keep the pot in a 
cool cellar, or plunged in a frame out¬ 
side, until roots are well formed, Avhen 
it may be brought into the house. 
Onions for Home Use 
Can yo'U tell me what kind of an onion 
is best to raise? Is it better to plant 
seed, or sets? Some say that the potato 
onion sets are the be.st kind, as they mul¬ 
tiply. I just Avant to get enough for home 
use. M. .s. 
Newtonville, Mass. 
I scarcely knoAv how to advise you in 
this matter, as it is not stated if you 
wish to grow onions for Winter use or to 
use in the green and dry state, or for use 
in the green state exculsively. The Mul¬ 
tiplier onion is all right for use when 
green, but not as desirable as some others 
to use Avhen dry. The following are the 
three most popular vai-ieties: YelloAV 
Globe Danvers, Southport Yellow Globe 
and Prizetaker. These varieties may be 
grown from seed or sets. However, un¬ 
less your ground is comparatively free 
from weeds, and is of a good rich sandy 
loam, I would advise you to plant the 
sets, as you are much more likely to be 
successful with them than if you t)lant 
seed. Growing good onions from seed re¬ 
quires certain soil and cultural condi¬ 
tions that one not familiar with the crop 
is very apt to overlook, or from lack of 
knowledge fail to take into account, with 
failure in the crop as a result. k. 
SAWS AND TOOLS 
I A $200,000,000 Woodlot 
T he farmers of this country own a $200,000,000 
woodlot. How much money will you make 
on your woodlot? Goal will be mighty scarce 
next winter. Many a factory, many a family will 
have to use wood. True, as sure as you’re a foot 
high. Sell all the wood you can cut. Use a 
Disston Cross-Cut Saw for felling and for cut-t 
ting cordwood lengths. 
The greenest or hardest of timber can't make a Disston 
Cross-Cut Saw quit. It stands up to the hardest kind of work 
and then comes back for more. Thrust pressure won't buckle 
it. Its blade, of Disston Crucible Steel, delivers long years 
of service. It has the right temper. It has the right hardness. 
The steel in Disston Saws or Tools is made right here in our 
own plant, because no other kind would do. 
We make many patterns of Disston Cross-Cut Saws for one 
man or two. These can be had in wider or narrower blades 
with the tooth you like best. Find the name Disston on saws 
and tools and you'll know you're getting quality through and 
through. Disston Cross-Cut Saws are the choice of the best 
woodsmen, as Disston Handsaws are the choice of three out 
of four carpenters. 
Modern farming demands Disston Saws and Tools. Sold by 
all progressive hardware dealers the world over. Send today' 
for free copy of “Disston Saws and Tools for the Farm.''^ 
HENRY DISSTON & SONS, Inc. 
PHILADELPHIA. PA.. O. S. A. 
Disston Files are as well known for quality as Disston Saws 
Drain Tile 
We are now manufacturing large 
quantities of 
Field Drain Tile 
at our plant Beach Ridge, N. Y. 
Let us give you our low 
prices and Ioav freigiit rates 
CENTRAL CLAY PRODUCTS CO. 
Nortli Tonawanda, N, Y. 
ISO 
-..T . . ... Stylos 
I Writ© for Groatost money sav¬ 
ing fenoo bargain book ever printed. Brown -.-7 
fence is made of Heavy DOUBLE GALVAN- -rPerRodUp 
IZED Wire. Resists rust longest. ALso 
Gatos and Barb Wire. Low Factory Prices. Freight 
Prepaid. AA^^ for free fence book and sample to test. 
THE BROWN FENCE & WIRE CO. 
DEPT. 2se . . . CLEVELAND. OHIO 
The Threshing Problem 
01 1 Threshes cowpoa.s and soy beans 
ljQ|V'0f| trom the mown vines, wheat, oats. 
’ ,ye aQd barley. A perfect combina¬ 
tion manhine. Nothing like it. “The machine I 
have been looking for for 20 years." VV. F. Massey. 
"It will meet every demand." H. A. Morgan, Di¬ 
rector Tenn. Exp. Station. Booklet 29 free. 
ROGER PEA & BEAN THRESHER CO.. 
Morristown, Tenn. 
WELL 
DRILLING 
PAYS 
WELL 
Own a machine of your own. Cash or easy 
terms. Many styles and sizes for all purposes. 
Wri'fe for Circular 
WILLIAMS BROS.. 432 W. State St.. Ithaca. N. Y. 
Send for 
Catalo, 
FARM WAGONS 
Higfh or low wheels- 
Bteel or wood—wi(l< 
or narrow tires 
Wagon parts of ai 
kinds. Wheels to fil 
any running gear 
f Catftlofc illustrated in colors freo 
Electric Wheel Co., 48eIiii SI.. Quincy. Ill 
CANVAS COVERS 
WATERPROOF COVERS 
hay Rtacks, anRinoa, otc. Small Hay 
CapSg 60c and upwards. 8-oz. canva.s 
wagon covers. 7 ft. by 12 ft. with brass 
ffrommets, $5.00. State size required. 
W. W. STANLEY. 5Q Church Strett, Now York 
APPLE PROFITS 
A Farquhar Hydraulic 
Cider Press will turn 
your culls into good 
selling cider. You can 
also make money 
pressing for your 
neighbors. 
, Our high pressure con¬ 
struction gets ail the Juice 
from the apples with mini¬ 
mum power. Presses in 
sizes from IS to 400 barrels 
. . „ „ . aday. New Catalogue 
giving full parUculars tree on request. 
A.B. Farqubar Co., Ltd., Box 130.York. Pa. 
We also maka Englnet ind BoHsrs, Saw Mila, Throahers, etc. 
INOCULATE 
SOY BEANS, ALFALFA, CLOVERS, 
and all legumes, and DOUBLE THE CROP 
Our Bacteria-Direct from Laboratory—At e^i 
A cre Size 50c; 2 Acres 95c; 6 Acres $2.00 
Posttiaid on receipt of price. 
30-page book—all .ibout legumes—EREE I 
THE ECGERT CHEMICAL COMPANY. Depl. A, CANTON, OHIO 
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on Berry Boxes 
and 
Baskets 
_ . , Write for our 
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from the larf/est BcT-ry Box arul 
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mien yoM write advertisers mention 
Jhe Rural New-Yorker and you’ll get 
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guarantee editorial page. 
ee 
