25 
A. H. NICHOLS 
CULTURAL INSTRUCTIONS 
When to plant your bulbs is partly a matter of where you 
live. We recommend early planting; that is, as soon as you are 
sure the ground is warming, for Gladiolus do not like to start 
in cold wet ground. In frost-free places, any time after the 
first of the year. One reason for this advice is that if any pest 
should decide to move into your garden, they are more likely 
to do so in the later season when it is hot. 
If you have heavy soil, sand will help; not just sandy soil 
but sand such as builders use. Peat is fine if well-mixed into 
the soil long before planting so that it is thoroughly incor¬ 
porated with the earth. Otherwise, a lump of peat may come 
in close contact with the bulb and hold the moisture in one 
place, thereby causing serious injury to the bulb. If you can 
prepare the place where you expect to plant the bulbs ahead of 
time, bonemeal (the finer ground the better), or any good 
fertilizer can be mixed with the earth, but be sure it is well 
mixed or particles of it may be washed against the bulb and 
burn it. Do not use fertilizer at planting time unless you 
scatter a light dressing over the top of the earth, to be dis¬ 
solved by the time the bulbs are up and the roots ready to 
use it. 
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 
