GROWING HINTS 
When your bulbs are received, open the bags to admit air, and 
keep. them in a cool, dry place until planting time. They may be 
planted from about April 1 to June 15 in most localities, except of 
course in the South and California, where the season is earlier. Any 
good garden soil will raise good glads if located away from buildings, 
trees and large shrubs. 
After preparing the soil well, plant the bulbs about 4 or 5 inches 
deep (shallower for the smaller sizes), and from 4 to 6 inches apart, 
with from 18 to 30 inches between rows. Bulblets may be planted 
quite thickly, about 2 inches deep. Plenty of moisture is important 
in obtaining good bulblet germination, but bulbs do not require much 
water at first unless ground is unusually dry. But from the time the 
stem begins to thicken until blooming time, plenty of moisture should 
be supplied if nature falls down on the job. 
About six weeks after blooming the bulbs should be ready to 
dig. It is not necessary or desirable to wait until the foliage freezes 
or turns brown. Loosen the soil around the plant and it will pull up 
easily with the bulb attached; the stem should then be cut off close 
to the bulb. Keep in a warm, dry place for 2 or 3 weeks, after which 
the old withered bulb can be cleaned off easily, and the new bulb 
will be ready for winter storage. A cool dry place with a tempera-- 
ture of 40-50 degrees is ideal. Small lots may be stored in paper bags 
or boxes, but be careful not to pile bulbs more than 3 or 4 inches 
deep at any time. 
Thrips: This is a small insect which can cause great damage to 
gladiolus blooms if not held in check. If you have any reason to 
believe that thrips may be present on your bulbs, give them a thor- 
ough dusting with 5% DDT during storage. Since thrips can fly 
some or may be carried to your glad patch by the wind, a prevent- 
ive spraying or dusting program is advisable. Many growers have 
reported complete freedom from thrips damage by dusting the plants 
once a week with 5% DDT from the time they are a few inches 
tall until they bloom. 
I want to thank you for the way you filled my order last year; 
the extras amounted to nearly the value of the order, CRINKLE- 
CREAM is tops! MISS WISCONSIN and MT. INDEX were just 
grand. FIRST LADY flecked so much that several spikes could 
almost have been called a pink smoky. That doesn’t sound too good, 
but it was very attractive. (Bro. A.H., Cincinnati) 
GAVOTTE was grand last summer. I hade a spike of BENGASI 
and one of GAVOTTE in a vase together and it was pretty hard to 
tell them apart; they were both great spikes. (R.E.B., Pennsylvania) 
Won a blue ribbon on your FIRST LADY, I like its clear deep 
color and ruffling. | (Mrs. P.H.K., New York) 
A good friend of mine bought some bulbs from you last year and 
was so well pleased, I am sending you this order. (R.F.S., Wisconsin) 
SUN SPOT is tops around here since the Binghamton show; it 
is a great glad. (F.E.Y.. New York) 
SUN SPOT was ideal, with well ruffled florets exceptionally well 
placed, and a very pleasing color that appeals to all. DAYDREAM 
was very nice, blooming same time as HUNTRESS and LEMON ICE. 
(S.E.T., West Virginia) 
