Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-04-05

will not be denied its right to leaf and
bloom; regal in its bearing as flower
garbcd in exquisite hues. and afistocrat
to the tip of its outmost bud. Equally
at home lighting up the unprotcntious
cottage or Haunting its vari-eolored
banner in some formal and stately gar
den. Careless Of its favors it showers
them alike upon the amateur and the
gladiolus specialist. How fitting that
it should be Salem 8 flower.
The name, gladiolus, comes from the
Latin, and means a small sword in ref
erence to the shape of the leaves. AS q
wild flower its headquarters is South
Africa, though species have been found
in the Mediterranean region. Unlike
many other wild flowers, however, it
has few attractive species, and it is sai1
that they would not be recognized as
belonging to the race. While we are
not able, therefore, to trace the gladio-
lus back to antiquity (does not Maetel-
linek say that the gladiolus is of yes
terdayN botanists beGan to recognize II
in 1875, and by the time Gouchet, the
gardiner of Napoleon Ill brought the
tall gladiolus into prominence, it had
] already made considerable progress
Since then its culture and development,
linked with the names of LeMoinc,
Croft, Kunderd, Mrs. Austin and many
others, has been remarkable.
So much is known, but when "the
freight S low and the company gone, ="
the real gladiolus enthusiast will tel
you that this is all rubbish, that the
'Gladiola is an old flower, very old,
that it antedates the tulip, that the
phlox came from Texas in 1885, that the
Ipansy is a delightful thing, but young,
that the rose may be a trifle older, but
he will ask you--'Ew Ewhere was the rose
Of yester-year2" q withercd leaf, n
dead fragrance, a memory. And where
the gladiolus Of yesterday9' here-an
imprisoned color, cheer in transition, n
bulb. "
And that brings us to the highly i'm
pOrtant question of the bulb. And al
though Ellis Parker Butler maintains
that "Pigs is Pigs" one must not for
get that bulbs Is never bulbs. "Ugly,
ill-shaDen and bareN it holds within all
the colors and shadings of the rainbow
(the only bulb that does) and is, Of
course the sought for pot Of golc. Une
may take a good bulb, plant it too
shallow, or too dec let the goat clip
Of the top, forget to hoe, never water,
and the chances are one will have a
lpassable, even handsome bloom. But
this will not happen with a poor bulb,
lor viii any amount Of care bring into
! being what is not there. The moral
then is, first catch vour good bulb, a
, firm heavy one, showing vitality and
, proper handling at every stage. Soft
! light bulbs win always fail to make
5 good plants. And in selection il is safe
. TO remeber that the so-cGlled large
, bulbs, the ones with large ciIcumfer
lonee, are not So valuable, other thilg'
! being equal, as the ones with good
7 vertical diameter.
Madison Cooper, the editor Of the
Gladiolus Grower says that while you
can plant a gladiolus bulb IN any way
{ and it will give you a flower spike, q
2 little extra care and attention will bt
, well repaid in additional and finei
g blooms.
4 As soon as the ground can be worked
+ plant for early bIGsm--in this climate
: cfs.n Is early as March and for con
g tinuity. by additional planting ever!
ta, weeks.
q Any kind Of soil viii answer exeepr
? cxircaely heavy clay. a sandy loan
is considered well adapted TO the gladi
olus, yet we have had kooG results witt
S medium clav lgsu \ sunny exposure
j. is by ell odds the best. though goot
!, bulbs yin bloom in partial shade.
[ Close planting is desirable as th'
}. plants thus help 20 support caen other
!. She bulbs may be put from four to SD