CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
Gladiolus 
W’Ik'ii you J'oc'oive youi' hulhs, oi)eii all })ac'kagos and, if too early for immediate plaiit- 
iuj>', store them, with the bags open, in a cool dry place. Soil is best })repared in the fall or 
very early si)riiig, plowing under w(dl I'otted cow manure oi- other fertilizer. 
Plant your bulbs as soon as danger of frost is ])ast; when the young leave's start grow¬ 
ing on the trees in your vicinity is a good time. Tlu'y may be })lanted in rows or clumps to 
suit your fancy. 
If in 1 ‘ows, have tlu'in far ajiart ('nougli for easy cultivation and about 4 inclu's ajeai’t in 
the row; in clum])s, they should be 4 to d inches a})ai-t each way. Wateidng should be done 
thoi'oughly once or twice a week, i-ather than lightly evei-y day. The ground should not lx* 
a lowed to get dry; cultivation lu'tween waterings will hel]) retain the moisture. When the* 
spike' begins to form the* cultivatie)n she)uld l)e very shalle)W, see as neet to disturb the reeots 
anel the watering is then nie)st impeertaiit; fertilizer may be worked in at that time anel will 
give size to the flowers. When in leloom, they should be watered at the base of the spike, 
as this prevents spotting and burning of the petals. 
These ai'e only general instimctions and should be su))])lemented with common sense; 
('very soil and locality have their own jii-oblems and all gardeners, amateui's or otherwis(', 
understand their own conditions Ijetter than we do. 
CARE OF EULBS: Aliout six weeks after ])looming time, when the foliage is beginning 
to tuiai brown, is the time to dig your glads. We j)resume that if you have cut the flowers, 
you have left about four leaves on the ])lant to mature the bulb; also you have kept your 
plants watered after blooming. When you dig them, cut the tops off immediately and ])lace 
the bulbs in shallow trays in an airy place. It usually takes from two to four weeks to cure 
the bulbs enough to take off the old bulbs and roots. When bulbs are cleaned and thoroughly 
dry, it is well to scatter naphthalene flakes over them at the rate of al)out 1 ounce to 100 
bulbs, and cover them with a ])apei' oi- cloth to confine the fumes. After about a month 
shake off the naphthalene and save it for ajiother year; the bulbs should then be stored in a 
cool ])lace for the winter until })lanting time. Before planting, soak your bulbs over night 
in a solution of 1 ounce of Bichloride of Mercury to 8 gallons of water, in a glass, earthen 
or wooden container. For small amounts and convenience you may use the regular Bichloride 
of IMercury antiseptic tablets in the same pi'oportion. 
THRIPS; A minute black insect Avhich of late years has caused considerable trouble in 
certain localities by sucking the juices from the buds so that the flowers do not open 
proj)('rly. The al)Ove precautions and early {(lanting will take care of that, esjiecially if you 
can get your neighbors to use the same treatment on their own bulbs. Hei-e in Orland, we 
have had no thri])s, in fact no tliidps have been found in a hundred-mile radius, consequently 
you are perfectly sure that you get clean healthy l)ulbs from us. 
Iris 
Ills should be ])lanted when recc'ived. Select a well drained sunny s]»ot, mix into the 
soil about a cu])ful of bone meal for every plant. Pulverized limestone* is bc'iu'ficial if the 
soil is SOU 1 -, but do not us(' manure, leaf mould, oi- peat around bearded iris. 
Po not ]dant dee])ly, jiress the S(»il fiimily ai'ound tlu* I'oots and h'avc* tin* top of the 
rhizome exposed. Wat('i- thoi'oughly at ])lanting time and about (*V('ry two weeks until 
established. Irises can go through the summei- without watering, but they will do better 
during a di-y summer if they receive an occasional watering, about as often as hardy shrubs 
•ii'e watei-ed. Irises should I;e divided or thinned out about every third or fourth yc'ar. Dry 
leaves are better pulled out than cut. 
Daffodils 
Plant Daffodils 4 to d inclu's deeji in W('ll ])rei)ar('d ground and do not disturb tlu* bull)s 
toi- sc'vc'ial yc'ars, until they have* become too crowded. As Daffodils grow in the spidng they 
usually do not need watei'ing, but if the weatlu'i' is di-y for any U'ligth of time after tin* 
plants aia* started, a thorough wat(*ring should be givi'ii. Aftei- flowa'ring time', if there' is no 
I'ain, \vat(*r should !)(* supjdied until the leaves l)('gin to dry. Do not cut the* leave's; th(*y 
haA(* to remain on the jelant until di'y in order to matui-e the bulbs. 
Hemerocallis 
Da\' Libu's m;ey be plante'd in any kind of soil, but like most |danls they enjo\’ goetd 
t'e'itile seal and moisture, especially at blooming time. They reepiire no .sj»eci;il care and may 
be plante'd in full sun oi* partial shade*. The*y combine* e’e'ry we'll with bine' irise's and white' 
lilies. Di\ i(l(' the jelants when they are growing too croweb'd. 
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