WHEN RECEIVED 
Open package of bulbs to admit air and store in a cool dry cellar. 
A vegetable or canned fruit cellar is about right but they should be 
aired out once in a while if the storage place is damp. Temperature 
should not be over forty or fifty degrees fahrenheit if possible, or 
lower as long as they do not freeze. 
WHEN TO PLANT 
Plant when the trees native to your locality are leafing out. 
Here in northwest Iowa we can plant from April 15 to July 1st. Do 
not plant too early. The ground should be warmed up somewhat. 
If planted while the ground is still cold they will not bloom any soon- 
er than if planted two or three weeks later, but in a protected place 
can be planted earlier than out in the open. 
WHERE TO PLANT 
The ideal place to plant is in a gardén in which there are no 
trees, shrubs or anything to shade them or take the moisure from the 
ground. If planted in the border or beds on the lawn be careful not 
to put them too close to other strong growing plants. 
SOIL AND FERTILIZER 
Glads do well on most any soil if they are planted in the open 
garden where there is plenty of sunshine, You may work well rotted 
manure into the soil in the spring by putting it into the bottom of 
your planting trench, then covering with an inch of soil, then plant- 
ing your bulbs. Vigoro is also good.. Two or three applications of 
commercial fertilizer may be made on the surface along the rows 
during the growing season before the plants bloom. Any fertilizer 
should be kept from direct contact with the bulb or foliage. If you 
wish to grow immense spikes you must fertilize heavily; your plants 
must also have at least an inch of water every three or four days. 
TREATING BULBS 
We treat all of our stock before planting with LYSOL, one table- 
spoon to one gallon of water. Soak bulbs or bulblets six hours. This 
treatment is a preventative against scab and rot and also is said to be 
a sure killer of thrip, 
PLANTING 
Work soil to a depth of eight inches, or ten inches will be better. 
For large bulbs they should be covered with not less than six inches 
of soil. The deeper planting helps keep them upright when bloom- 
ing. Smalier bulbs should be planted not less than two inches. You 
may regulate your distance apart in the row by the space you have. 
Plant rows anywhere from twelve inches apart to two feet apart. 
Plant in rows from two to six inches apart, depending on space and 
size of bulbs. They do well planted close together, but require more 
water. 
THRIP 
The adult Gladiolus Thrip is a very small black insect about 
one-sixteenth of-an inch long. The injury they do causes bleaching 
of the foliage and drying up of the buds so they do not open. 
Spray your Glads early and often. Start spraying when the 
plants are up 6 or 7 inches high and spray every week or 10 days. 
The Government experts of the United States and Canada recom- 
mend 3 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. And remember this poison is deadly 
to animals and humans and must be handled with extreme care. 
