Gladiolus of Quality 
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KEMP’S GARDENS 
THE WAY TO GROW DAHLIAS-Coniinucd 
middle of July, and the last application toward the end of August, which is as late as ferti¬ 
lizing should be done. 
Plant June 1st to 10th for early September exhibitions, and June 20th to 25th, for later 
exhibitions. Count three weeks from the time the bud becomes visible to the time the bloom 
can be cut. Pinch out the two side buds soon as large enough, and the side branches at 
least two joints down. If the buds come too early, they may be taken off, and others be 
allowed to take their place, that will mature blooms at the right time. To have good blooms 
throughout the blooming period, the plant must be severely disbudded, forcing it to throw up 
new succulent growth from the lower buds. If this is not done, the plants will mature ear¬ 
ly, harden up, and practically cease blooming just at the time when you should have them 
at their best. 
Gladiolus Thrips —How to Control 
Gladiolus thrips can be easily and cheaply controlled by use of sweetened poison, as 
their love for sweets is so pronounced they will feed on sweetened poison in preference to 
the Gladiolus. With two or three sprayings of the following solution they can be effectively 
controlled. 
Mix two pounds of dark brown sugar and one pound of Paris green together thoroughly, 
and of this mixture use about one ounce to two and one-half to three gallons of water. 
Agitate the mixture until it is thoroughly incorporated with the water, and spray the plants 
once before the spikes appear, and again in about ten days, and later, a third time if nec¬ 
essary. The thrips will come out of the sheaths of the leaves and feed on the foliage wher¬ 
ever there is a deposit of the sweetened poison. It is not necessary to cover the entire 
plant with the spray material. Jlf two or three leaves have received the poisoned spray 
the insects will gather on them for feeding and be almost completely exterminated. The 
cost for spraying material is about 10 cents for 1,000 bulbs. 
THE GLADIOLUS 
The easiest to grow, the least expensive, the widest range of beautiful colors and color 
combinations of any of the summer flowering bulbs. 
The late and much lamented Dr. Van Fleet, who was one of the pioneer Gladiolus breed¬ 
ers in this Country, predicted to the writer more than 30 years ago, that the time would 
soon come when the Gladiolus would be one of the most popular garden flowers in cultiva¬ 
tion. 
This prediction has in a great measure come true. At that time they were but little 
known to the great majority of our people, and comparatively few were grown in American 
gardens, requiring only a few hundred thousand to meet the demand. Today they are be¬ 
ing grown by the millions, and there is room for many millions more, as thousands of Home 
Gardens are without this wonderful flower. This should not be as they can be had at so 
little cost, that any garden owner can afford to have them in abundance. If you have never 
known the Gladiolus, do so this year by all means, and I venture to say you will be more 
than delighted with the glorious bloom they will give you. 
I know of no other summer flowering bulbs, procurable at so low a cost, that are as 
attractive and useful for Home and Garden decoration as the Gladiolus. Their large per¬ 
fect flowers are borne on tall graceful spikes, often having twenty or more buds, and if cut 
when the first flower opens, and placed in water, every bud will develop into a perfect flow¬ 
er, one or more opening each day, covering a period of twelve to fourteen days before the 
last flower is gone. 
No Garden these days is considered complete without its one or more plantings of these 
queenly, summer flowering bulbs. They are not exacting as to soil and culture. They will 
grow and bloom under conditions that would discourage most bulbous plants to quit, yet 
like everything else grown in the garden, they do best in a friable, fertile soil, supplemented 
with good clean culture, and will respond wonderfully to good nourishment and loving care 
Planting every ten or twelve days, in rows in the garden, or in groups in the border, 
(covering the bulbs four inches deep), from early April until latter part of June will give a 
succession of blooms from the middle of July to October. No other species of flowering 
bulbous plants will give you such great returns in flowers, and satisfaction, for so little 
cost and care. 
In the fall, when the foliage turns brown, they should be lifted, the tops cut off close 
to the bulb, and laid in a dry, airy place two or three weeks to dry and cure, when the old 
bottoms can be removed from the new bulb, and the bulbs be put into cloth bags or shallow 
boxes and stored in a dry, cool, but frostproof place for the winter. 
Our bulbs are grown under the skillful care of experts who have had years of training 
in the production of high quality stock, and no better bulbs can be procured than we supply 
our customers. Every precaution is taken to keep them free from disease, and true to 
name, and we stand ready to replace any that should prove otherwise. 
Our storage cellar is filled with one of the finest stocks of Gladiolus bulbs we have ever 
harvested, placing us in a position where we can supply your wants, backed with a guar¬ 
antee of satisfaction. May we have the pleasure of serving you? 
Full and comprehensive cultural directions sent with each order. This leaflet tells you 
when and how to plant, how to care for the growing plants, when and how to cut the blooms, 
when and how to harvest or dig the bulbs in the fall, in fact everything necessary to guide 
you to entire success. 
