8 
JOHN LEWIS CHILDS, FLORAL PARK, N. Y. 
They are very tall and erect, often standing four or five 
feet higm with spikes of bloom over two feet in length. They 
branch freely, in most, cases each stern producing three or 
four spikes of bloom, and bloom much earlier than ordinary 
varieties. The flowers are of great substance and of gigantic 
size, frequently seven to nine inches across. The form of 
both the flower and spike is perfection itself, and they last in 
bloom a longtime bofore fading, owing to their great sub¬ 
stance and vigor, but, the most remarkable feature is their 
coloring. Every color known among Gladiolus is represented 
and man v never before seen, particularly blues, smoky-grays 
and purple-blacks,all having beautifully mottled andspotted 
throats, made up of white, crimson, pink, yellow, etc. 
Mixed Gladiolus Childsi- All colors. 3 for 15c.: 6 for 35c.: 
13 for 40c.; 100 for $3.00. 
Yhe Gladiolus. 
The Gladiolus is our leading specialty, and our 
collection is the largest and finest in the world in 
fact, we supply most of the bulbs which the world 
uses. We grow about 150 acres of them. 
The Gladiolus is the most satisfactory, the most, desir¬ 
able and the most popular of all garden bulbs. Nothing else 
of tho kind costs so little, and nothing else grows and blooms 
so readily for anybody and everybody in any soil or climate. 
It is, in fact, tho most satisfactory garden flower, thriving 
and blooming, as it does, with the least care and attention, 
and makes a display which, for brilliancy and beautv of 
coloring, few bulbs can equal and none surpass. The Gl'adi- 
olua »8 to the flower garden what broad is to man, “the staff 
of lire. Our collection is so large that many of the finest 
and highest priced sorts of European catalogues can be 
supplied by us by the ten thousands, and we offer them at 
very low prices. Not only do we grow the finest varieties of 
Gandevensis by the million, but also Lemoine’s New Hardy 
Hybrids. Hut the finest of all Gladiolus is the new strain, 
Childsi. This novelty is of such sterling worth that it de¬ 
serves more than special attention. 
CULTURE.— Gladiolus are of the simplest culture. 
Plant at any time from April to July, in any fairly good 
soil, well spaded. Set in rows three inches apart, or in 
masses six inches apart each way. Plant in full sun, if pos¬ 
sible, and keep down weeds. They bloom from Julv to 
October. After fall frosts, lift the bulbs, and after removing 
the tops let them dry for two or three weeks in anv airy 
position under cover. Then, after removing the roots*, store 
them in a cellar, or any cool, dry place, away from frost, for 
planting again the following spring. We have issued a little 
book which tells all about Gladiolus and their culture. 
Price, 10c. 
Mixed Gladiolus. 
Our mixed Gladiolus are not the poor, dull colors old 
discarded red sons and worthless seedlings usually sent out 
as Mixtures. On t 1 —- -- *>—.— 
did named sorts, 
yellow, pink, rose, ^ ca.u.mc, vjmeb, 
striped, blotched, variegated, etc. All old, common and 
f x>r sorts have been discarded, and this mixture is of the 
ighest grade. 
Mixed, All Colors, First Size - Extra large (lowering bulbs, 
per dozen, .S0c.: per 1( 0, $2.25; per l.ODO. $30.00. 
Mixed, All Colors, Second Slze—These are all fine bloom- 
waTS lb9 - Per ,iozen - i:v - : »**• io °' »■«* 
5 Gladiolus Gbildsi for 25c. 
... Haying a large stock of the following five varieties of 
Gladiolus Childsi, we make this special oiler of 25c. for the 
collection of five varieties: fine, large dowering bulbs. 
They are as follows: 
Col um bla- Light, orange.scarlet, freely blotched and pen- 
died with blush purple. Throat, freely mottled. 
Henry Clllman— Deep sal mon-scarlet, with pure white hands 
through each petal, the throat showing the peculiar 
spotting and mottling of this class. peculiar 
Mohonk— A .strong, rank grower; (lowers of large size and 
great substance. Deep, dark pink, with spotted throat, 
shaded orange and flaked with maroon. 
Mrs. Beecher- Beautiful deep, rosy erimson. Large, well- 
opened (lower with pure white throat; freelv marked 
and spotted with bright carmine, ’ 
Wm - Falconer -Spike of great length and flowers of enor¬ 
mous size. Light, pink and blush, two delicate shades, 
freely mottled and intermixed. Throat spotted. 
Above 5 sorts for t5c. 
Gladiolus Gbildsi. 
