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 al- 
lowed to take their share of the moisture, sunlight and food. Good drainage is essential. Water is necessary 
but Glads do not stand wet feet. Frequent cultivation keeps down weeds and conserves moisture in the soil. 
Any good garden fertilizer is good if applied three times during the season. Our method is 
to apply it (1) in the trench at planting time, (2) as a side dressing when the plants are about 6 inch- 
es high and (3) again just as the buds break through the sheath. A thorough watering with or just after 
each side dressing will help in making the fertilizer available and will give the Glads that extra stretch 
you want. We plan to plow under one or two lots of green manure (a cover crop of rye, rye grass, clover, 
or other good material) before we plant the crop. This provides the needed humus in the soil. 
Gladiolus can be protected from thrip (a tiny insect) in storage and in the field by the 
use of 5% DDT. Bulbs in storage should be dusted as soon as dug with 5% DDT Dust and again after 
the bulbs are dry and cleaned (old bulb and roots removed). This dust will do no harm if left on the 
bulbs even after planting. The plants should be dusted in the field or sprayed with 5% DDT solution. For 
spray mix | tablespoonful of 50W DDT with 1 gallon of water. Overdosing will do no harm. Dust or 
spray every 7-10 days from the time the plants are 6 inches high. 
When cutting blooms be sure to leave at least 4 good leaves on the plant to mature the bulb. 
Dig when the frost kills the tops or as soon as the tops begin to turn brown. Cut the top off as close to 
the bulb as possible and store the bulbs in bags or screen bottom trays. If you store in bags, be sure 
and leave the tops of the bags open for the circulation of air through the bulbs. Dust with 5% DDT 
Dust or Spergon Gladiolus Dust. Spergon Gladiolus Dust has DDT in it so one dusting will serve two 
purposes—a protection against disease and against thrip. Dry the bulbs in a cool airy place for two 
weeks or more or until the roots and the old bulb can be easily removed. Then clean them (remove the 
old bulb, roots, dirt and bulblets) dust again with either DDT dust or Spergon Gladiolus Dust and put 
away for the winter. Winter storage should be between 45 and 60 degrees, should be dry and should 
have air circulation. The fungus diseases of Gladiolus thrive in cool, damp storage with no air circulation. 
Be sure to dust all additions to your collection of bulbs with DDT no matter who they come from. 
Sort and discard any bulbs in the spring that show any signs of disease or rot. Dip before 
planting in New Improved Ceresan, using 1 oz N. I. Ceresan, 3 tablespoons of Grasselli Spreader 
Sticker to 3 gallons of water. 15 minutes for bulbs and 30 minutes for bulblets is safe. DO NOT EX- 
CEED THIS TIME. Plant as soon as possible while the bulbs are still wet. BE SURE YOU GET THE 
NEW IMPROVED CERESAN, NOT CERESAN M. 
DETAILED CULTURAL DIRECTIONS WILL BE SENT WITH EVERY ORDER. 
Dahlia Culture 
Dahlias should not be planted until the ground warms up in the spring. Here we plant between May 
15th and June 15th. They will grow in good garden 
This can be supplied by plowing under a cover crop 
least three feet apart each way and the larger kinds 
Place the tuber horizontally in the bottom 
inches and finish filling the hole as the plant grows, 
rather than later and stakes 5 feet long are usual. 
To produce the best bloom on the larger 
one on every lateral branch. Pinch out two out of 
laterals, allowing only one bud to grow in every group 
length of stem. 
soil, well fertilized and containing plenty of humus. 
the preceding year. Tubers should be planted at 
can use even another foot each way when well grown. 
of the hole about six inches deep. Cover about 2 
Stakes should be put in at the time of planting 
growing kinds pinch out all buds except the center 
every 3 buds that form along the stalk or along the 
of three. This will increase the size of bloom and 
Dig the plants after the first frost kills the tops. Cut the tops off at once. Dry in the 
sun a few hours before storing and store in boxes or 
barrels in a cool place. 45 degrees is best. Cover 
the boxes or barrels with newspapers or wrap each clump in paper to keep it from drying out. Wax 
paper such as old bread papers are very effective 
wrapping. 
We recommend for your consideration the Popular Gardening Magazine and the Empire 
State Gladiolus Society as per the enctosed coupons. 
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