Coloifi Billtowds 
featuring Etadictud 
used bY 
Milwaukee FCOUMS 

florists, you can cooperate with 
him to advertise and increase 
the use of gladiolus throughout 
the summer season. If you are 
in a metropolitan market, you 
can contribute to your local 
allied florists association so that 
you might be in a position to re- 
quest them to do more adver- 
tising for gladiolus, ''The King of 
It doesn't 
take much to get your money 
Summer Flowers." 
back. If your newspaper is small 
* you reach your readers on a 
more personal basis. If the news- 
paper is large your advertising 
reaches hundreds of thousands 
and in some cities millions of 
people. If you would like to try 
advertising during your glad 
season and want some help, 
drop me a note and | will be 
glad to assist you. 
GLADIOLUS OFFER PLEASURE 
AS WELL AS PROFIT 
Most of the people who re- 
ceive this catalogue are not in- 
terested in growing gladiolus 
for profit. You want them pure- 
ly for the pleasure their growing 
affords you, for the beauty they 
bring into your home and gar- 
den. Others grow these won- 
derful flowers for the thrill of 
taking them to the gladiolus 
shows and the still greater thrill 
which comes when they capture 
the winning ribbons. 
HOW TO WIN AT THE SHOWS 
It is true that certain varieties 
are capable of producing more 
exhibition spikes than others. 
However, with correct growing 
you will be able to get the most 
out of the bulbs you plant. 
I'll give you just a few simple 
helps, which, if followed care- 
fully, will enable you to grow 
topnotch, winning spikes for the 
shows. 
The very beginning of your 
planting is of utmost impor- 
tance. First, you need a clean, 
firm top-quality bulb, ranging 
from number one size down to 
and including number three. 
They should be young bulbs, 
preferably grown from bulblets. 
Almost any type of soil will pro- 
duce good flowers, but location 
is an important factor. The 
gladiolus like a lot of sunshine 
and air. So keep them away 
from buildings, trees and shrub- 
bery whenever possible. Ample 
water is also needed, but you 
must have a well drained loca- 
tion so that the plants do not 
stand in water. Frequent culti- 
vation is helpful, especially after 
watering or heavy rains, to per- 
mit air to re-enter the soil. 
Plant your bulbs deep, 6" to 
7" for large bulbs. You can only 
partially cover them at first 
and keep filling in the rows 
as the plants grow. This is im- 
portant because it is necessary 
to keep the roots of your plants 
down at a level where they will 
be cool during the hot summer 
days. Your soil should have 
humus and moderate fertility. 
Much of your success will de- 
pend upon the start you give the 
new plant. You cannot neglect 
the job at the beginning and ex- 
pect to obtain good results from 
a poorly grown, stunted plant. 
The size, health and vigor of the 
new plant will to a great extent 
determine the spike it will later 
produce. So remember to give 
your glads good care early and 
all through the season. Keep 
them well sprayed or dusted as 
a preventative against thrips 
from the time they are six inches 
high, until they have bloomed. 
It is easier to dispose of one 
adult thrip early than thousands 
of them later on. Side dressing 
of fertilizer should be applied 
when plants are half grown, and 
again just prior to blooming, 
worked well into the soil and giv- 
en immediate and ample water- 
ing. 
