A. H. NICHOLS 
4 
Do not use manure near any bulb unless the manure is old 
and well decayed. Plant away from trees and shrubbery as 
Gladiolus like sunshine. It is a temptation to plant among 
shrubbery with the picture in mind of the bloom stalks coming 
up among the greenery, but the roots of the stronger plants 
use much of the moisture and later it is hard to withdraw the 
moisture and ripen off the bulbs. 
1. Plant from four to six inches deep (large bulbs deeper 
than small ones) , and about six inches apart. A bit deeper if 
the soil is sandy. 
2. Three rows wide gives a better appear- * * * * 
ance than a single row if staggered in a trench * 
like a checker board, making staking unneces- * * * * 
sary, although the taller sorts with many blooms open at once 
will need support. A stake at each end of the row with twine 
or wire stretched between and the single spike tied to this 
shows very little and gives good support. Over-fertilizing will 
tend to make them “flop”, too. But the better sorts have 
fine straight stems that stand up well. 
USE SOME FERTILIZER FOR FLOWERS 
If you wish to increase the size of your flowers, work in 
some fertilizer around the plants when they are eight or nine 
inches high and again when the flower spike begins to show. 
Plenty of water is necessary, too. We have found that a plant 
has seven leaves before the bloom spike shows and it is then 
about three weeks before the flowers are at their best. But 
remember that large florets are bred in the variety and no 
amount of fertilizer or care can make the flower of a smaller 
typed sort grow to the size of the newer large kinds. It will 
improve the spike a lot, but size is in the variety. 
CUTTING BLOOM 
The wonderful popularity of Gladiolus has been due to its 
fine keeping qualities as a cut flower. It has no fragrance to 
make the air oppressive—new florets keep opening for days. 
When cutting flowers use a knife with a small blade. Leave 
