A FEW POINTERS FOR RAISING BETTER GLADS 
Plent your glads in an open sunny place. Glads planted in the shade may not 
bloom, or will produce very poor spindly spikes and the foliage will be narrow end 
grassy. The only exception to this is in the southwest where the hot summer sun 
may burn the spikes. Here a certain amount of shade may be beneficial during the 
heat of the day. Lathe shades, old camouflage netting or cheese-cloth may be used 
for this. But in Pacific coastal regions, gleds need all the sun they can get. 
To get good growth and fine spikes there must be plenty of soil moisture. But 
gleds do not like a poorly drained soil. "Wet feet" will surely cause one or more 
diseases. ' 
Glads like a good, rich soil. They will do well in all types of soil from clay 
to sand, provided there is a reasonable amount of humus and plant food. If your 
soil is heavy, work in liberal amounts of well rotted humus, peat moss, or vwell- 
rotted cow manure. This is best worked into the soil in the fall, but may be done 
in the spring if discretion is used. If you feel that commercial fertilizer is a 
necessity in your gerden, it is best to use only a small amount at planting time 
end use the remainder as a side-dressing during the growing season. 
If you want some really tall show-spikes, try side-dressing your plants just 
as the tip of the spike is about to appear from the leaves. Fish-meal, tankege, 
liquid fish fertilizer, may used sparingly,- or pulverized sheep guano may be used 
rather liberally. Cultivate into the soil and give a thorough soil soaking. 
Do not apply fertilizer as a side-dressing to glads, or sny other plants, when 
the soil is quite dry. First heve the soil moist for about 24 hours. 1f a chemical 
fertilizer is wetered into a soil with thirsty plants,- the plants will take up so 
much moisture and disolved chemicals that burning of the plant will often result. 
Store your gladiolus bulbs in e dry, airy location,- with a temperature as near 
50 degrees as possible. The Oregon State College has made rather extensive experi- 
ments in temperatures for correct storege. "ihile the control of one disease is 
best obtained at a temperature of 60°, and the control of another is best obtained 
at 40°, - a temperature of 50 degrees seems to the the best and most effective med- 
ian temperature. 
* * * 
Complete instructions for planting, growing and storing glads will be sent out 
with all orders. 
x * * 
JOIN A GLADIOLUS SOCIETY - By becoming @ member of e state or national society 
end reading its publications, you will learn about new varieties, new methods of 
growing and disease control, all about show winners, etc. iiost states have one or 
more active societies. If you would like the name of the secretary of the society 
in your state, just drop us e@ card and we will be pleased to send it to you. 
The three national societies are: 
The North American Gladiolus Council, 
Henry S. Sentman, iembership Secretary, 
820 Ontario St., 
Havre de Grace, Maryland 
The New Englend Gladiolus Society, 
Membership Secretary, 
Horticultural Hell, Boston 15, Mass. 
The Canedian Gladiolus Society, 
Mrs J. A. Cerlton, secretary, 
166 Willow Road, 
Guelph, Ontario, Cenada 
"WATCH FOR ROYAL STEWART ! OUR 1955 INTRODUCTION." 
