Decorah-posten., 1898-08-19
The Gladiolus.

The Gladiolus.
(Concluded.l
How do ! keep my Gladiolus
owe the winter2 I'll tell you. ]
dig them in fall. on a sunny, warm
day, and spread the roots out in
the sun to dry, without cutting off
the tops. AT night ! cover them
with papers, or a blanket, and
next day ! expose them to the
sun again. This has a ripening
effect on them. If they are dug
and put away without this treat
ment. in nine cases out of ten they
will mold or decay. After the
stalks have dried up well ! cut
them off within six inches of the
bulb, and the roots are stored
away in a dry place until cool
weather comes. Then ] 60 over
the lot and find that most of the
old stalks will separate readily
from the bulb. ! put them in
paper bags and hang them up in
some cool but perfectly frost
proof room. They must not be
kept in a moist place, and they
should not be kept in a very dry
one. There is a happy medium
to be found about most houses,
and when you have ascertained its
whereabouts keep it as your
GladioluS room. 1t is a good
plan to look them over once or
twice during the winter to make
sure that they are doing well.
II they seem to be drying up too
much remove them to a place
where they will get more mois-
ture. If any show signs of mould
or mildew, put them in a dryer
place.
! am often asked if the Seeding
Gladiolus offered so cheaply ARE
good for anything2" A lady
writes that she does not see how
any flower of such beauty can be
sold so cheaply, therefore she is
afraid of investing. She need not
be. The seedlings are worth a
good deal more than is asked for
them. True, one a not tell just
what they will be as to color, but
you can be sure of getting some
quite as fine in all respects as the
named sorts which will cost more
per bulb than a dozen, or a score
of the seedlings. Some of the very
finest kinds that / grow came
from a mixed collection Of seed
lings. have, from them, several
sorts that are as rich in color, and
as fine in form, as some named
kinds that cost me a dollar a bulb.
They are sold cheaply because
they are easily grown. You need
not be afraid of putting your
money in them. In no way can
you invest it and get a larger
return.
would never advise anyone to
plant Gladioluses singly. If this
is done, the effect will be thin,
have said in another place.
hey must be massed in order to
scure the best results. If you
liant them in groups, put at least
IN or a dozen roots in each place.
Zach bulb will generally send up
from two to four stalks, and in
this way you get a strong mass of
color, which you would not have
were you to plant each root by
itself.
Where the grouping system is
carried out a good support is
furnished by setting a stake in the
center to which the hower-stalks
can be fastened loosely, as they
reach up. much prefer planting
in rows and using a wire as a sup
port. would advise having two
or three rows running the length
OF the bed, as this gives breadth to
the mass of color, which you will
not get If you have but n row.
A little experience with this
flower will show that the most
satisfactory results are secured by
planting it in such a manner that
a body of color is obtained.
1t is also excellent for planting
among the shrubbery, and especi-
ally in the vicinity of evergreens
whose dark colors throw ont the
vivid brilliance of its flowers with
striking effect.
EBEN E. R~ExFoRD, Wis.