Gladiolus Care and Culture 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS IN BRIEF 
Excellent blooms can be had if you follow these brief instructions. Gladiolus can be 
planted in any kind of soil where they will have full sunlight all day. No other plants or 
trees should be allowed to take their share of the moisture, sunlight or food. Good drain- 
age is essential. Water is necessary but Glads do not stand wet feet. 
Any good garden fertilizer is good if applied three times during the season. These 
times are (1) in the trench at planting time, (2) as a side dressing when the plants are 
about 6 inches high and again (3) just as the buds break through the sheath. A thorough 
watering with or just after the second side dressing will help materially in giving the 
spikes stretch. 
For Thrip protection dust with 5% DDT dust or spray with DDT-50W reduced with 
water to 5% strength. This should be done every week or ten days from the time the 
plants are up 6-10 inches until blooming time. If Aphis are present add Black Leaf 40 to 
your DDT solution or spray again using Black Leaf 40. 
When cutting blooms be sure to leave four good leaves on the plant to mature the bulb. 
Dig when the frost kills the top or about a month after the bloom is gone whichever 
comes first. Cut the tops off as close as possible to the bulb and store in paper bags or 
boxes not more than 4 inches deep. Dust with Spergon Gladiolus Dust at once to check 
Fusarium and other storage diseases. 5% DDT dust may be used at this time but Spergon 
Gladiolus Dust contains DDT as well as a fungicide. 
Dry in a cool airy place for two weeks or more or until the roots and old bulb can be 
easily removed. Clean (that is, remove the old bulb, roots and dirt but leave the husk on) 
and dust again with Spergon Gladiolus Dust or 5% DDT dust and put away for the winter. 
Cool, dry, airy storage is best. Be sure to dust all bulbs brought into your storage with 
either DDT or Spergon Glad Dust no matter what the source may be. 
Sort and discard any bulbs in the spring that show signs of disease or rot. Dip before 
planting in either New Improved Ceresan, Lysol, or Cresol Compound but plant as soon 
as possible while they are still wet. (Be sure to follow the formulas exactly, particularly 
if using N. I. Ceresan). 
Follow these simple directions and you should have excellent bloom from your bulbs. 
We will include a more detailed instruction sheet with every order. 
LIATRIS 
(Blazing Star or Gayfeather ) 
A very useful perennial of very easy culture, for both landscape 
effect and for cut flowers. Used in the perennial border it is very ef- 
fective, growing to about 4 ft. high and blooming in midsummer 
to early fall. It throws up long narrow spikes of rich purple flowers 
that are long lasting, continuing to open in water and used extensive- 
ly for cut flowers and in arrangements. Especially nice when 
used with certain colors of Glads in baskets or vases. Large 3-5 eye 
divisions, postpaid in U. S., 3 for $1.20; 6 for $2.10; 12 for 
$3.95. 
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