MILDRED LOUISE 
CULTURE OF GLADIOLUS 
If you can grow potatoes you can grow Gladiolus. Plant in 
any good garden soil as soon as ground is workable up to 
the first of June. If several plantings are made at different 
times the season of bloom will be lengthened. Do not plant 
in shade of trees or buildings, and do not allow fresh manure 
to come in direct contact with bulbs. Use well-rotted manure, 
commercial fertilizer, wood ashes, or bone meal, well mixed 
with the soil. Set the bulbs five to six inches deep in rows 
and about three to four inches between each bulb. Rows 
about 18 inches apart. Or may be massed in beds about 
four inches apart each way. If planted in quantity and 
to be cultivated with a horse make rows 30 to 36 inches 
apart. Keep soil loose and free from weeds. When cutting 
flower spike let at least four leaves remain on the plant to 
allow the bulb to mature properly. Dig bulbs in the fall, 
cut off tops, and after drying in the open air for a few days 
store away in a dry, cool but frost proof place in the cellar. 
On account of its good keeping qualities the Gladiolus 
surpasses all other flowers for cutting purposes, and in order 
to obtain the utmost pleasure from the blooms you should 
place them in vases in the house. The Gladiolus is particu¬ 
larly adapted to table decoration. Cut the spike in the 
morning or evening when the first bud opens, leaving at least 
four leaves on the plant to mature the bulb. Change the 
water daily, remove the withered portions, and cut (on a 
slant) an inch or so from the end of each stem. Every bud 
will open one by one to the very top, and a vase of blooms 
may be kept fresh and beautiful for a week or ten days. 
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