There is nothing in 
the whole list of bulbous 
flowers more important 
than the Gladiolus. It is 
certainly a grand and 
beautiful flower, and so 
easily grown that any soil 
will suit it — the heaviest 
clay or pure sand — and 
the conditions must be hard indeed under which it will not 
thrive. The colors range from pure white to dark crimson, with 
all intermediate shades of yellows, reds, pinks, purples, etc., 
with an almost endless variety of stripes and markings. For 
cutting for house decoration the flowers are especially valuable, 
for if the spikes are cut when the flowers first begin to open, 
and placed in water, the buds will open beautifully and will last 
for ten days. By planting some bulbs at intervals of two weeks 
from April I until August a regular succession of flowers may 
be had until late in October. About the first of November 
the bulbs should be taken up, and, after the tops have been cut off, 
stored away in any cool, dry place secure from frost, where they can 
remain without further care until planting time. The bulbs increase 
» rapidly, and one may count on having their stock doubled each season. 
The Gladiolus may be grown among hardy Roses, Rhododendrons, shrub¬ 
bery, or other hardy plants, and will make a great show of beauty when 
these things are out of flower. Not their least merit is that many 
splendid varieties can be had at very low prices. 
“Twelve of the Best.” 
We are often asked to make a selection of the twelve best Gladioli, 
and now offer the following list as twelve of the very best. Some of the 
varieties are new and now offered for the first time. We will send the 
twelve for $2.50, or postpaid, by mail, for $2.75. They cannot fail to 
please those who care for something choice. 
Martha Washington. A tall and strong-growing plant; flow¬ 
ers pure light yellow; of large size, in a well-arranged spike; 
lower petals slightly tinged with rose ; it is of a branching habit, 
and some of the branches are longer than an ordinary spike of 
flowers, making this one of the most popular and beautiful varie¬ 
ties yet introduced. 50 cents each. 
President Lincoln. Spike long, flowers large, with blush-white 
ground, with the edge of the petals suffused with bright red, the 
lower division heavily blotched with crimson. 50 cents each. 
Adanson. Rose, slightly tinged lilac ; large blotch, on white ground, tinged 
yellow ; edged with carmine, flushed lilac. 30 cents each. 
Emma Thursby. Pure white ground, well-defined carmine stripes through 
the petal, with heavy blotch on lower divisions. 50 cents each. 
General Phil Sheridan. Flowers fiery red, large, a distinct white line 
running through each petal. 50 cents each. 
General Sherman. A tall-growing variety with brilliant scarlet flowers, with 
heavy white blotch on the lower divisions; spike well arranged, and the flowers 
of good shape and substance. 50 cents each. 
Horace Vernet. Bright purple red ; large pure white blotch, feathered red. 
35 cents each. 
Grand Lilas. Tall spikes of large, perfectly-arranged flowers of delicate lilac, 
shaded dark toward the edges. 30 cents each. 
Meyerbeer. Brilliant scarlet, flamed with vermilion ; amaranth 
red blotch. 25 cerits each. 
Pericles. Light rose, flamed with carmine purple; large pure 
white blotch. 40 cents each. 
Shakespeare. White, very lightly suffused with carmine rose ; 
large rosy blotch. A splendid variety. 40 cents each. 
Zenobia. Rose, slightly tinted with violet, flamed with dark 
carmine; large white blotch, feathered with carmine. 25 cents 
each. 
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