HOW TO GROW 
PLANTING 
Gladiolus should be planted in 
the spring after all danger of 
frost is over. In regions where 
the weather is moderate, plant¬ 
ing may begin early in January. 
In the Eastern and Mid-Western 
States, where severe cold pre¬ 
vails, April and May are the 
surest planting months. 
Plant the bulbs approximately 
four times their own depth. In a 
cool climate they thrive best in 
a good sunny place. Where the 
summers are extremely warm, a 
partially shaded place is pre¬ 
ferable. 
■ 
GROWING 
Do not use dressing too liber¬ 
ally, and never apply fertilizer 
at the time of planting. A light 
application of any well decayed 
manure or good commercial fer¬ 
tilizer applied on top of the 
ground after the plants are sev¬ 
eral inches high will aid in pro¬ 
ducing larger blooms. 
The ground should be kept 
moist (not wet) until the flower 
spikes begin to appear, then 
water freely. The spikes can be 
cut as soon as the first buds be¬ 
gins to open. Four or five of the 
lower leaves should be left to 
help mature the bulb. 
■ 
DIGGING 
The bulbs should be dug as 
soon as the leaves turn yellow 
or as soon as they are killed by 
frost. They should be lifted and 
tops cut off close to the bulb 
then allowed to cure, preferable 
out of doors. If in a warm 
climate, they should be shaded 
during the heat of the day and 
protected from possible frost at 
night. The usual time for curing 
is from four to six weeks. When 
thoroughly cured, the old dried 
corms should be removed from 
the bottom of the new bulbs 
which should then be stored in 
shallow trays or boxes open to 
the air, and kept in a cool dry 
place, protected from the frost. 
■ 
GENERAL SUGGESTIONS 
Many people prefer to make 
their plantings in relays, three or 
four weeks apart until as late as 
the season permits (thirteen 
weeks being the average time 
from planting to blooming). This 
results in a much longer bloom¬ 
ing time, while otherwise the 
flowers would bloom and fade 
during a comparatively short 
period. 
Close planting, with the bulbs 
about four inches apart makes 
the best color effect. Group plant¬ 
ings are always very effective. 
Stagger rows (.:.:.:.) give 
the same effective group plant¬ 
ing effect when gladiolus are 
planted in rows or in borders 
and make a much better color 
mass than single row plantings. 
See Thrip Control Made Easy, 
Page 10. 
EED 
^ # 
DAHLIAS 
Dwarf Bedding Type 
Salbach Re-selections. Shown in natural color, on 
front cover. One of the most outstanding of all recent 
seed offerings, being ideal for bedding, fine for cutting, 
and having a long blooming period. Unusually effec¬ 
tive in the garden, as is evidenced by the universally 
favorable comments among many visitors who hove 
seen the splendid display made by these bedding dah¬ 
lias in our own experimental gardens. Recommended 
by Sydney B. Mitchell, considered the West's leading 
garden authority, as one of the finest new things he has 
ever tried in his garden. 
Single and semi-double flowers on plants 12" to 20" 
high. Good keepers, invaluable in small bouquets, and 
striking in the garden. Require little space and the 
tubers of the best for future seasons. Germinates easily. 
Blooms the first year from seed. Fifty (or more) seeds 
to packet. 
Special XXXX Mixture. Selected from the finest and 
most floriferous plants. 
40 to 50 seeds...Pkt. 50c 
Choice Selection — 40 to 50 seeds....Pkt. 25c 
- - 
POMPON DAHLIA SEED 
Pompon dahlias ore the small "button" dahlias. 
While the seed of these do not give 100% pom¬ 
pons, it gives a large percentage of attractive "but- ! 
ton" dahlias. Besides pompons, these seeds us- 
! ually produce a number of duplex dahlias (small 
flowers with two or three petals), and often ’at¬ 
tractive miniature dahlias. 
40 to 50 seeds ...Pkt. 50c 
MINIATURE DAHLIA SEED 
Miniature dahlias are from 2 V 2 " to SUa" in dia¬ 
meter and ore cactus, semi-cactus and decorative 
in form. They ore very popular as cut flowers 
for home and for florists. 
40 to 50 seeds .....Pkt. 50c 
COLLARETTE DAHLIA SEED 
Collarette dahlias are singles 2 V 2 " to 4" with a 
small inner collar of narrow fluted petals often a 
different color around the seed disk. They are 
very unusual and interesting for cutting. 
40 to 50 seeds .Pkt. 50c 
ZULU DARK LEAVED STRAIN 
A range of red-toned, dark leaved dahlias similar to 
the famous Bishop of Llandaff. Plants run about 2 V 2 ' 
high with blooms duplex form in shades of red. Eighty 
per cent or more come dark leaved, although a very few 
will give light folliage plants. Not our own seed, but 
from a planting which we closely inspected and judged 
as being up to our own high standard. 
50 or more seeds ......Pkt. 35c 
The live dahlias pictured on this page, like 
those on the opposite page, were grown in a 
single patch this season, Irom Salbach seed. 
PAGE TWENTY-ONE 
