CARE AND CULTURE 
(Complete planting instructions will be included with each order) 
SOIL AND FERTILIZER 
Glads do well on most any soil if they are planted in the open garden where there is 
plenty of sunshine. You may work well rotted manure into the soil in the Spring by putting 
it into the bottom of your planting trench, then covering with an inch of soil; then planting 
your bulbs. Vigoro is also good. Two or three applications of commercial fertilizer may be 
made on the surface along the rows during the growing season before the plants bloom. Any 
fertilizer should be kept from direct contact with bulb or foliage. If you wish to grow 
immense spikes, you must fertilize heavily; your plants must also have at least an inch of 
water every three or four days. 
PLANTING 
Work soil to a depth of eight inches, or ten inches will be better. Large bulbs should 
be covered with about six inches of soil. The deeper planting helps keep them upright when 
blooming. Smaller bulbs should be planted not less than two inches. You may regulate your 
distance apart in the row by the space you have. Plant rows anywhere from 2 ft. to 3 ft. apart. 
Plant in rows from two to six inches apart, depending on space and number of bulbs. They do 
well planted close together, but require more water. 
DIGGING AND STORAGE 
Our early stock is taken up in early October. The bulbs should be taken up within six 
weeks to two months after blooming but before the tops begin to get brown. Even if the tops 
are green, bulbs should be taken up before the ground freezes deeply. After digging, cut off 
the tops close to bulb and put in screen bottomed trays to cure. They should have plenty of 
ventilation while curing and must not be put in containers more than three or four inches 
deep. At this time Napthalene flakes (procured from your druggist) may be safely scattered on 
the bulbs which are dormant. Use at the rate of an ordinary handful per 100 bulbs. A little more 
or less won’t do any harm and it will drive away any thrip that may be harboring an idea of 
wintering on your bulbs. By the time you are ready to clean the bulbs most of the flakes will 
have evaporated. A note of warning! DO NOT use them in the Spring when the root nodules 
appear at the base of the bulb, as they are harmful and prevent normal growth of the plant. 
Use them right after digging or early winter. Stir them every few days and keep dry. In four 
weeks they will be cured so that old bulbs may be removed from the bottoms. They may then 
be placed in storage. Proving very effective as a thrip control in storage is a light dusting of 
5% DDT powder. This is very good if the bulbs do not have to be handled during storage 
as DDT powder is poisonous. 
The storage temperature is best at 45 to 50 degrees. Your storage room should be dry, 
cool and ventilated and as near uniform as possible as to temperature. It is well to look at 
your bulbs every two or three weeks. If they show signs of too much moisture or look mouldy, 
dry them out and give better ventilation. Keep them in small containers and spread thin. 
THRIP AND DISEASE CONTROL 
With the advent of D.D.T. as a dust or spray for thrip on 
gladiolus the problem has become of minor importance. A few 
dustings or sprayings after the plants are about 8-10 inches high 
will eliminate all trouble from that source. 
DDT Spray 
2 rounded teaspoonful DDT (50% wettable). 1 teaspoon- 
ful Dreft. 2 gallons of water. Spray every 8-10 days till glads 
begin to bloom. 
DDT Dust 
Use 3 or 5% dust. Preferably use a dust also containing a 
coon fungicide. Dust lightly every 8-10 days till glads begin 
to bloom. 
BULB DIPS 
As a disease preventative for bulbs. We recommend this as a precaution both for your 
old bulbs and new bulbs no matter where obtained. 
LYSOL — 1 tablespoonful of Lysol. 1 gallon of water. Soak 4 to 6 hours immediately 
preceding planting. 
NEW improved Ceresan — 1 oz. of N. I. Ceresan. 3 gallons of water. Weigh carefully 
and leave bulbs in solution 15 minutes. Do not leave bulbs in solution over 20 minutes and 
be sure to plant immediately after dipping. 
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