CATALOGUE FOR 1941 ee 
and spray every week or 10 days. The Government experts of the United States and 
Canada recommend 8 level tablespoons of TARTAR EMETIC (purchase at any drug 
store), 1 lb. brown sugar, 5 gals. of water. Keep this concoction well stirred while using 
as a spray. Do not spray the flowerhead and remember this poison is deadly to animals and 
humans and must be handled with extreme care. 
Rototox is one of the very best sprays for Glads and also for other plants in your garden, 
It is non-poisonous and will kill Thrip in all stages. We use this ourselves. Use according 
to the directions furnished by the distributor. Write the Rototox Co., 81 Yale St,, East 
Williston, New York. They will send you a 20-page booklet which is free. 
If you are thorough in following out a program of disinfecting and spraying you will 
have no trouble with Thrip. 
HERE IS THE REAL SECRET 
Of growing exhibition spikes. I am assuming of course, that you have already planted 
large, healthy, young bulbs and that you have already placed them into well enriched soil 
allowing plenty of space between the bulbs. 
The growing plants should have already been given every care, been carefully weeded and 
not allowed to suffer from lack of water or cultivation at any time. 
If this has all been thoroughly done, you are now ready for the real secret, which is just 
this—“Top dressing, additional fertilizing and moisture.” This program should start by the 
time the 6th leaf appears when the spike can be felt before it pushes its way up through 
the bud sheaf. At this time make an application of liquid cow manure diluted to about the 
color of weak tea. Follow a week or so later with a second application and then when the 
buds are showing color this may be followed by another application of the same material or 
better still, an application of liquid nitrate of soda at the rate of one heaping tablespoonful 
to 8 or 10 gts. of water. Do not use any stronger than this. 
I have found the best way to apply these materials is to make a shallow furrow about 5 
to 6 inches away from the plants on either side of the row, it is then easy to apply the liquid 
with a sprinkling can with the nozzle removed. After the liquid has soaked into the ground 
it is an easy matter to hoe some soil over the furrows. 
Be sure the soil is moist before applying any of these materials. And speaking of moisture; 
it is almost impossible to give your plants too much moisture during this bud to bloom stage. 
Glads do not like wet feet but if the drainage is at all good give ’em lots of water and 
soak it down deep. The application of lots of water during this bud to bloom period can- 
not be over-emphasized. 
Bear in mind there is such a thing as over-fertilizing. Do not make your applications to 
strong, keep it away from the foliage and be sure to wet down before applying. I do not 
recommend top dressing more than three times as too much will tend to make weak stems 
which in turn develop crooked spikes. 
If you follow the above suggestions you had better plan to cut your spikes from a step- 
ladder. 
