Gladiolus 
How to Grow Gladiolus. Glads planted Nov. 15 to Mar. 1 in Southern 
California and thruout the south (a little later in Northern California and 
early as possible in spring in the east) are reasonably sure to escape the 
attack of thrips. Our Glad bulbs are especially grown for this purpose, 
matured early and dug in August. But if you plant recently dug bulbs you 
will gain nothing; they will continue their rest of three months before 
_ starting. 
Thrips are very small insects that suck the juices from the plant. They 
cause the flowers to wither or appear burned, and appear only after weather 
becomes warm. To avoid the damage thrips do, four measures are effective. 
Plant early. Plant clean, treated bulbs. Keep them reasonably moist and 
well cultivated, with no weeds. Dust with Chlordane. A hand duster can 
be bought from most local feed or seed stores. Probably Chlordane also. 
If not, try Leffingwell Co., LaVerne, Calif., or any of their many local 
places. Chlordane tho toxic is safe to use but do not use on vegetables. Be 
careful not to breathe much of the dust. It also kills ants and other pests. 
Dust Gladiolus 3 or 4 times before flowering. Begin when plants are 
6” or 8” tall. Even tho you plant late you will have no thrips damage. Even 
in hot So. Calif. you can have good Gladiolus flowers all Summer. 
Plant large bulbs (really ‘‘corms’’) 4” or 5” deep. Half inch bulbs, 3”. 
Bulblets 2”. Twice their diameter apart. Rows 20” apart, in full sun exposure. 
Best soil is sandy loam but they do very well in heavy soils, especially if 
leaf mould and compost is added. Alkaline soils do not produce good Gladiolus. 
Correct them by addition of peat or leaf mould. Use only well decayed 
manure, if any. Spoonit is an excellent, mildly acid fertilizer. 
Sizes. Size Novi, 1%? up. No. 2,,1%”" to-1%”: No: °3,-1": to 14%. .Nov 4, 
3%" to 1”, No. 5, 4%” to %”. No. 6, all under %”. In the following list L. means 
large, No. 1 or No. 2. M. means medium, No. 3 or 4. S. or small are No. 5 
or 6. If not designated, the bulbs are large. Smallest sizes bloom and often 
bulblets. No. 2 and 3 are preferred for growing commercial cut flowers. 
Prices are for one bulb. Multiply by 10 for the price of one doz. 6 at doz. 
rate. 100 cost 70 times the cost of one or 7 times the cost of one dozen. 
We grow only the best sorts, that produce high quality cut flowers as 
we sell them to florists. Varieties subject to disease or that produce unsalable 
flowers are rejected. In the following list we have added a number of the 
very latest sorts that you will all want to try. Please note that our 1951 
prices are much lower on these than you will find in 1950 catalogs. 
Ballad. Lovely ruffled light rose. L. 8c. 
Birch Red. The best deep red. 1” bulbs, 50c ea. 
Burma. Very deep rose, heavily ruffled. L. 12c. 
Capehart. Early, salmon rose. No. 1, 7c. L. 5c. 
Chamouny. Beautiful bright rose with silver edge. L. 6c. 
Elizabeth The Queen. Very large ruffled lavender. The finest lavender 
and the most beautiful gladiolus. L. 10c. 
Ethel Cave Cole. The florists’ favorite pink. Large fls. No. 1 and jumbo, 
10c. L. 6c. 60c doz. 
Gold Dust. Very early clear yellow. L. 8c. 
Huntress. Very early, ruffled lavender pink. L. 15c. 
Leading Lady. The largest, finest white but not earliest or whitest. Light 
cream tint. Has highest record of any present glad for winning first prizes 
and “grand champion” in shows. L. 15c, 2 for 25c. $1.20 doz. 
Los Angeles. A good cool weather grower and used for forcing in 
greenhouses. Planted early to bloom early it makes a nice show in gardens 
as I’ve counted as many as 100 flowers from one bulb. Important to use in 
breeding because of sturdy health. Plant farther apart. L. 5c. No. 1 or 
jumbo 8c. 
Margaret Beaton. Large white with scarlet throat. L. 6c. $3.50 per 100 
by express, f.o.b. 
Miss Wisconsin. Bright rose. One of the most beautiful. L. 15c. 
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