Evening star., 1938-06-04


10 us in q magnificent form with vivid
Il, too often discounted in value In the
garden by being forced to grow in too
crowded quarters, so that it cannot
develop its full possibilities of bloom,
Given inches square in which to
grow, 1t will make beautiful little
bush.
There are two distinct types, the
grandifora, large-howering and max
ing about foot in height, and the com.
pacta or dwarf types of about 8 inches.
The latter are finest for edgings and
bedding, as they are much the finest
individual flower and cluster. but it
does not produce them so lavtshly.
This larger section has beautiful COL
orings and markings and a bed of it
belongs in any good planting of an
nuals relying on the dwarf sorts for
longer and continuous masses Of color.
X y
WHILE the annual phloxes are
easily raised from seeds, the per-
ennials are best obtained as plants.
The tall perennial sorts, the glory of
the garden in midsummer, may be
raised from seed. but only few Of
them will equal the fine named varie-
ties. The selected types of seedlings,
however. make the fine garden mate
rial TO be used in quantity.
The native hardy phlox, Divaricata,
often called sweet wild william, is
easily raised from seed, the phlox tribe
having the habit of shooting their seed
broadcast when it ripens, so that it is
a difficult matter to collect 1t.
Make sowings Of phlox drummondi
at frequent intervals for q succession
OF bloom, as its season Of bloom is
short. A reserve row Of it In the vege-
table garden will give fine stems for
bouquets. The grandiflora type Is the
kind to grow for cutting, as it makes
good stems. The dwarf sorts do not
make enough stem for cutting. Phlox
are best sown where they are to grow.
and later thinned. They can be trans
planted, but re-establish early.
Il So
THERE never will be too MANY
gladioh about the garden. While
they are relegated chiefly to the realm
Of cutting plants they have q decora-
tive garden value that should not be
overlooked. A supply should be tucked
In all about the garden, to be allowed
to bloom for decoration and not for
cutting.
The graceful spikes Of the primu-
linus hybrids are fine for garden ef-
feet. The sitter spikes Of the larger
and more robust growing hybrids lack
the grace Of the more slender prims.
For garden effects glads should be
planted in clumps of a single color.
The background and companion
paintings of blooming ANIMALS or pc
rennials also should be considered in
the planting. Beautiful effects are
created by planting pink or yellow
and salmon glads with the lavender
background of the sea lavender, Statice.
Violet petunias with pink glads Is an
other favorite combination, the Pc
tunias repeating the colors OF the
glads rising above them. The light
blue bedding petunias are also efiec-
tive as a ground planting for the pink
glads.
GIVE the glad good soil and set
the bulbs to inches deep. For
exhibition bloom extra care will be
needed. There are several books de-
voted to the culture of gladiolus and
giving elaborate details as to the best
methods of growing show spikes. F.
F. RockWell's little gladiolus book is
one of the most practical of these,
being small and easily carried In the
pocket for garden reference.
The newer primulinus hybrids have
attained a size under the skilled
handling of plant breeders which
rivals the older stamps and at the
same time retaining the graceful
spike and hooded flowers which are
so characteristic of this species. The
yellows and oranges in the prims are
the finest in the whole gladiolus race.
Plant glads freely for garden color.
They come in midsummer to give new
life and beauty to the garden just as
other plants begin to show the effects
of summer heat and before the fall
glory of the asters and other COM
posites take command of the garden
picture.
A gladiolus will grow and bloom
almost anywhere, but no plant s more
responsive to good culture.