Evening star., 1940-08-03

Show scheduled for August and 8
The range in type and color is fully
as good today as it was years ago
The Woodbridge Show, August 9, also
anticipates numerous entries of fine
flowers and from present indications
the Maryland State Show at Hag-
erstown is going to be well worth
the trip to see it August 10-1l.
Recommended Control
Only Solution.
Many gardeners in and around
the District of Columbia continued
TO grow "glads" in spite of the thrips
They followed the recommended
control measures and had a fair
measure of success from the begin
ming. Those that did not use the
various control measures available
soon gave up The elimination of
this class of growers greatly simpli-
fed the growing of "glads." 1t is
comparatively easy to eradicate the
thrips from your own corms II the
danger of reinfection is eliminated.
This writer by carefully treating his
corms in the fall and again in the
spring at planting time succeeded in
! eliminating the thrips and for the
past three years has not had to
apply summer sprays. The success
of this control was due for the most
part to the fact that it is nearly a
half mile to the nearest garden IN
which gladioluses are grown.
Newly purchased corms should be
treated carefully to prevent REIN
lection. This consists OF the re-
moval of all of the husks and dust
ing or soaking the corms with one
of the mercurial compounds. One
NAV use bichloride Of mercury or
any one of the proprietary products
available. If the corms are pur-
chased IN the fall they may be given
the napthalene flake treatment
This is less work and apparently
fully as effective. After the corms
are thoroughly dried and cleaned
they are stored in tight paper sacks
with an ounce of napthalene flakes
for each so corms. The sacks are
stored in a moderately warm place
for a month or six weeks, after
which the napthalene flakes are re-
moved and the bulbs stored in airy
containers in cool, dry place until
planting time.
The culture of the gladiolus is
comparatively simple. In fact, most
gardeners plant them without
especial treatment of the soil. How
ever, "glads" like all other flowers
respond to good cultural practices
They need full sun for most OF the
day. The soil should be enriched
with humus to hold the moisture
and liberal application OF COM
plete fertilizer insures tall spikes
Well-flled with flower buds. Many
growers apply superphosphate at
planting time and when growth is
well under way but before the flower
spikes are visible, apply a complete
fertilizer as side dressing. Two
to three pounds of 4-8-5 mixture
to a 5O-foot row is the usual apph-
cation.
Because of the growth of "glads'
In the heat of the summer many
gardeners supplement our rather
sporadic rainfall with the hose. This
serves to keep the plants growing
vigorously and oftentimes prevents
stunting of the flower spikes. II
one does not care to apply water and
the soil is we'll supplied with humus
q good mulch of compost or mulch
ing paper will suffice.
Stalking Desirable
For Tall 'Glads.'
For the taller-growing varieties
stalking is recommended since
strong winds oftentimes uproo'
them Just as they are ready tt
bloom. If stalking is too much OF
chore strings may be stretched or
either side of the row to give the
necessary support. This method o.
protection is usually effective wher
the corms have been. planted II
rows, as is generally recommended
Gladioluses are not particularly USE
full as landscape hover and hence
are best planted in rows in the cut
ting beds.
Flower spikes should be cut a:
the lowest foret opens. BY cutting
them at this stage the flowers art
undamaged by insects or weather
I and really choice bloom thus in.
sured. The spikes should be hard
ened off overnight, in deep cole
water. If the water is changed
every day or two and the vases are
kept out of strong drafts, the flower
buds will all open.
The list of available varieties !!
almost endless and short list fol
the beginner is likely to be the tar
get of much criticism. However
every list contains the well-knowr
Picardy, an outstanding salmon.
pink that may be depended upon tx
do we'll in almost any garden. Min.
net, a lavender, is also one of tht
better varieties. Others recon-.
mended for the beginner are Comdr
Koehl, a red; giant Nymph, shell
pink; Maid of orleans, white
Betty Nuthall, salmon; Bagdad
smoky old rose; Duna, pinky buff
Margaret Fulton, rose salmon; Mis-
Bloomington, early yellow; Pele
grina, dark blue; Red Phipps, igh
red; and Wasaga, buff. These ar
al inexpensive well-known vari
cites Of the ge-flowered or grand
1forus type.
For the newer and possibly bette
varieties it is suggested 'that visit
be made to the local flower show
where one may see the performanc
Of the newest as well as of the olde
varieties.