blau and the throat blotch is larger. Bulb and 
plant are especially healthy. Among the 200 
bulbs there was not one afflicted with scab or 
hard rot, the two diseases that attack Gladio¬ 
lus bulbs. For prices on Flamingo and Blu- 
nello see Price List. 
Orange Flare 
That is the name of a new variety of Cos¬ 
mos, which is much like ordinary Cosmos, ex¬ 
cept in color and foliage. The foliage is not 
so fine and feathery as that of the old vari¬ 
eties. It looks like the foliage of Marigold. 
The flowers have a beautiful orange color. 
Cosmos and Calendula are the easiest to grow 
of all flowers. Better try some of both next 
summer. 
How To Grow Gladioli 
Most gardners have good luck with Glads 
without instruction, but a few directions to 
those not experienced may help. Here are my 
methods. Plant from April 1 to June 1, the 
time depending on climate. In the south they 
plant much earlier than either of those dates. 
They may be planted in clumps, the bulbs be¬ 
ing 3 or 4 inches apart, and the clumps 20 
inches or more apart, or they may be planted 
in rows, the bulbs being 2 or 3 (or more) 
inches apart, and the rows 20 inches apart. 
Small bulbs may be planted as close as one 
or two inches from each other. Plant bulbs 
from two to five inches deep, the depth de¬ 
pending on size of bulb and character of soil. 
Plant deep in loose sandy soil, and shallow in 
stiff clay soils. Plant in good fertile soil but 
do not use fresh barnyard or stable manure. 
Soil that was manured the year before will be 
all right. Avoid alkaline soil or soil where 
ashes have been dumped. Dig bulbs in the fall 
before foliage dies. The foliage will endure 
some frost without harm. I usually begin dig¬ 
ging in early Or*** but earlier will be bet¬ 
ter if biSJbs have grown large enough to suit 
you. Do not wait for foliage to ripen or die. 
Cut off tops at once with grass shears and 
place bulbs in shallow trays or boxes to cure, 
and leave them out doors a few days, or in an 
airy shed. In from two to four weeks clean 
the bulbs but do not try this till the old bulbs 
and roots separate easily from the new bulb. 
Save bulblets for increase of stock. To sep¬ 
arate bulblets from dirt, dump them into, a pail 
of water, stir and pour off bulblets into a sieve. 
Store bulblets and bulbs for the winter is a 
cool dry place where they will not freeze. 
Bulblets have a hard shell, so will not grow 
without soaking two or three days, or crack¬ 
ing shells with thumb and finger just before 
planting, or both. » 
Gladiolus Thrips 
These are tiny bugs that injure the plant 
and blossoms. You may have them and you 
may not. Thrips leave white spots on the 
flowers. If very numerous the flower may not 
open at all. They may be seen under the bud 
coverings. The larvae are sort of yellow. The 
full-grown thrip is black, and acquires wings. 
It is thought they are spread by bees and hum¬ 
ming birds. They may winter in bulbs, and be 
planted in the spring. Most commercial grow¬ 
ers have to fight them, by treatment of bulbs 
and spraying of plants. To treat the bulbs be¬ 
fore planting use ounce of corrosive sub¬ 
limate in 4 gallons of water. Use warm water 
to dissolve the chemical in a small glass. Nev¬ 
er use a metal container with corrosive sub¬ 
limate. Wood, glass or crockery ware will 
not be injured. Soak bulbs in this solution for 
seven hours. Now all this sounds like quite 
a job, but you will want to give this treat¬ 
ment, to disinfect bulbs before planting, thus 
preventing scab and hard rot. In this treat¬ 
ment you accomplish two objects; killing thrips 
and disinfecting bulbs. You will not find this 
a great task. When large quantities of bulbs 
are treated, the same liquid may be used for 
different lots but it must be strengthened from 
time to time. One thing more about thrips. 
In cutting tops be careful not to let the tops 
be above the bulbs, as thrips may rattle down 
to the bulbs and winter there. 
When plants are about 6 inches high begin 
spraying, and spray every ten days. Paris 
green and brown sugar are used. Use a round¬ 
ing teaspoon of Paris green to 2 gallons of 
water. 
I believe my own bulbs to be free from thrips. 
I have not been able to find any, nor has the 
plant inspector. 
Size of Bulbs 
The large size (L), diameter 1*4 inches and 
more, is the size most in demand. This size 
makes the largest flowers and the tallest 
spikes. The medium size (M), diameter 
around 1 inch, makes good flowers, and is low¬ 
er in price than the large size. Large-medium 
is a name I have given to the smallest of the 
large bulbs, and the largest of the medium size. 
Most of this size will actually measure li^ 
inches. Small (S) is the size smaller than 
medium, but does not include the smallest 
bulbs. I plant those myself. 
Business Terms 
Cash with order, please. We growers are at 
expense from spring till the next winter, and 
appreciate the cash by the time the orders be¬ 
gin to come in. P.O. money orders are preferred. 
Checks are accepted, but there is a charge at 
the banks for cashing them. Will accept 5 and 
10 cent stamps in payment for small orders 
less than $1.00. Sometimes I receive currency 
in letters. It may not be perfectly safe to 
send money that way, but I have not known 
of any loss by that method. 
I fill southern orders as soon as received, 
protecting bulbs from frost. To the colder 
states I begin shipping bulbs about March 1, 
if the weather is not too cold. 
Five bulbs go at the 10 rate, and 6 bulbs at 
the 12 rate. I pay postage on everything. 
Order Early 
It will be to your advantage to order early 
before some varieties are sold out. Here is an 
inducement. Send me an order before March 1, 
and I’ll send you one-fifth extra value. March 
orders will bring you one-tenth extra value. 
Well I always send something extra, however 
late you order, but more for early orders. I 
plant small and medium bulbs in May, and do 
not usually have bulbs after June 1. 
Extracts from Letters 
Sun behind the clouds today? 
Gladiolus, blaze away! 
Storm is lowering? with their bloom 
Gladiolus, rout their gloom! 
Thoughts are leaden, sorrows cling? 
Gladiolus, make them sing! 
How I loved those Glads! How I loved every¬ 
thing in Boulder! 
A. H., California. 
The Glads I bought from you were beauti¬ 
ful, and so many people asked where they 
came from. Please put the following names 
on your mailing list. 
Mrs. H., Alabama. 
My Picardy, Minuet, Betty Nuthall, and W. 
H. Phipps were just fine. Best collection I 
ever had. All grew large and perfect. Be sure 
to send me your price list of choice Glads, 
as I wish more for next season. 
Mr. J. R. V., Illinois. 
