April , i g i 6 
25 
The tall spears of gladiolus are always welcome in the garden 
GROWING THE MODERN GLADIOLUS 
New Sorts of an Old Flower That Are Worthy of Any Gardener’s Attention— 
Color Schemes and Growing Habits of Some of the Best Varieties 
M. EMERSON MAIN 
F OR the lover of beautiful flowers who has 
scant time to put in at cultivating them, the 
gladiolus of to-day is preeminently the flower to 
grow. Not only are they exquisitely beautiful: 
they are also exceedingly obliging. They will grow 
in almost any soil, though it is conceded that a 
sandy soil suits 
them best, and in 
any place except 
extreme shade or 
among the root> 
of trees. A great 
many bulbs can be 
planted in a lim¬ 
ited space if nec¬ 
essary, and there 
is endless variety 
to choose from in 
both low and high 
priced kinds. 
There are early 
and late bloomers, 
tall and dwarf growers, and 
by planting judiciously and in 
succession they may be had in 
bloom from late May to cut¬ 
ting frosts. It is quite possible 
to have them in bloom in the 
window garden during the 
winter months, the Colvillei 
being used mostly for that purpose, and there are 
at least three sorts to be had at twenty-five or thirty 
cents a dozen. 
In planting out-of-doors, the only enemies to be 
feared are the cut-worm in the spring and the 
aster beetle in the fall. Cut-worm ravages can be 
guarded against 
by placing around 
each spear as it 
breaks ground a 
handful of sweet¬ 
ened bran with 
which a little 
Paris green has 
been mixed. If 
one has hens that 
run at large the 
bran may be used 
without the pois¬ 
on, for the worms 
prefer it to the 
plants. The aster 
beetle will have to be band- 
picked and dropped into warm 
water and kerosene. Tie’s a 
cunning chap, and if he hears 
or sees you coming he will 
have to be picked off the 
ground where he lies, feet up. 
“playing ’possum.” But the 
Niagara, an exquisite yel¬ 
low glad, blooms pro¬ 
fusely. Notice the prom¬ 
ising buds on these stalks 
Pink Perfection and 
white Europa are 
among the most de¬ 
sirable modern sorts 
Among the large salmon 
pinks. Mrs. Frank Pendle¬ 
ton should not be over¬ 
looked in the garden plan 
