WARE, MASSACHUSETTS 11 

GLADIOLUS PLANTING AND GROWING NOTES: 
On receipt of your bulbs the package should be opened to allow fresh air to reach 
them. If there are many bulbs in a bag it would be better to pour them out into a shal- 
low container. Keep bulbs in a cool temperature, as near 40° to 45° F as possible until 
planting time. 
At planting time we would suggest treating all bulbs, wherever purchased, by soak- 
ing in a solution of 1 ounce Corrosive Sublimate to 7 gallons of water for 8 to 10 hours. 
This soaking helps prevent various fungus diseases and scab on the bulbs and is also 
said to-destroy any thrip that may be on the bulbs. NOTE—Corrosive Sublimate is a 
deadly poison and care should be taken to prevent it being left where it might cause 
injury to person or animal. 
The bulbs can be planted in rows 18 to 36 inches apart depending on the method of 
cultivation and the space available. Make the furrows about 6 inches deep in well pre- 
pared soil and mix in well at the bottom of the furrow 3 or 4 Ibs. of a good commercial 
fertilizer or Vigiro to each 100 feet of row. Space large bulbs 4 to 5 inches apart and 
smaller sizes accordingly, either in a single row or in a double row. We prefer the 
double row as it helps hold up the plants during heavy winds and storms. 
Cultivating should be done after a rain or watering, to prevent the soil from becoming 
hard or crusted on the top. When watering give the ground a good soaking. Frequent 
cultivation also helps conserve moisture in the soil. 
When plants are 6 to 8 inches tall it would be a good time to spray for the control 
of any thrip that mav be present. Your bulbs may have been free of thrip when planted 
but some may have been carried to your plants by a strong wind from some other plant- 
ing nearby. Spraying should be done regularly several times during the growing season. 
We have used the new recommended Tarter Emetic spray for the past few years and 
find it very effective in controling thrip. The formula is: Tarter Emetic, 4 lbs; sugar 
(brown or white) 16 Ibs; 100 gallons water. Smaller quantities in the same proportion. 
It has been recommended that a smaller amount of Tarter Emetic, 2 lbs, sugar, 4 lbs, and 
100 gallons of water be used but we prefer the original formula which seems to give 
a better control in our field. 
Dig your bulbs about 6 or 8 weeks after blooming or when the tops begin to turn 
brown. Cut the tops off close to the bulb and put in shallow boxes or trays where there 
is good air circulation and allow to dry. In from 2 to 4 weeks they will be ready to 
clean and then the old bulb and roots should be separated from the new bulb. 
After cleaning it is good practice to put in Napthalene flakes 1 ounce to 100 large 
bu'bs, using a low container or piece of paper, in the storage box and then cover with 
pavers for a few weeks after which the Napthalene flakes should be removed and the 
bulbs put in storage for the winter. 
