Evening star., 1941-08-16

make certain that the excess spray
and rinse water 60 down the sewer
or into the Soil0
Spraying should begin as soon as
the new shoots are inches or more
tall and be continued at intervals
until the flower spikes are we'll
formed. 1t is not considered de-
sirable to spray after the buds show
color. If spraying IS started in
time the infestation will be so re-
duced that they will do very little
injury to the flowers.
Personally I prefer to put my de-
pendence upon winter treatment of
the corms for control Of the thrips.
The corms are dug as soon as the
foliage is mature, the tops cut of,
and the corms are spread to dry
on the garage floor. When thor
oughly dried they are put into
boxes and carried into the basement,
where they can be cleaned at leisure.
After cleaning the corms are stored
in sacks or cardboard boxes, with a
maximum of so to a container. The
napthalene flakes are added before
tying the sacks.
There are great many varieties
Of gladiolus available to the home
gardener. Most gardeners prefer
to grow the large -flowered or eX-
hibition type varieties, although
primulinus (hooded) are more dain-
ty, prolific and disease resistant.
Some varieties of the large-flowered
type seem to be difficult to grow
without careful cultivation and
feeding, although the finest of them
all. "Picardy," is no more difficult
than zinnias or marigolds. I have
tried several varieties OF white
gladiolus and have yet to have them
really thrive in my garden. Ap-
parently our soils are too acid or
the summers too hot and muggy
for them. Maid of Orleans seems
to be the most dependable.
At the Hyattsville Show highest
awards went to Sahara" sandy
buff; "Vagabond Prince" garnet
brown, and "Picardy,' an apricot
salmon. At Takoma, the variety
Frank J. Mccoy" (salmon pink
took first honors; "Picardy" was
second and an unnamed Seeding
(apricot- -coloreO was third. At the
Woodbridge Garden Club Show
white Jalna" placed first.
I do not have the 1910 symposium
on gladiolus varieties before me but
there is the 1899 list as reported by
"glad" fans. "Picardy." "Minuet,"
Maid of Orleans" Commander
Koehl,' "Vagabond Prince" "Pele-
grina," Mother Machree," Shirley
Temple" Charles Dickens" Bag
dad" Golden Goddess" "Rewi
Fallu," Star of Bethlehem"
Beacon" King Arthur" BLACK
Opal" Golden Chimes" "Dr. F. z.
Bennett" Peggy Lou" Blue
Admiral" "Rosemarie Pfitzer," Tip
Top" and "Wurtemburgia" Those
in black type were in the top 25 in
1934-showing that they have out
standing merit Most of those
named in the above list are of the
large-fowered show type.
Gladioluses are of easy culture.
The corms should be planted in early
MAY, or as soon as the soil has
warmed up q bit. Early planting is
seldom injurious, the bulbs remain
ing dormant until temperatures are
high enough to start growth. Any
ordinary garden soil is suitable,
although they seem to take more
kindly to the lighter soils. A rich
drained garden soil seems to
be ideal. Frequently cultivation and
moisture throughout the growing
season produce the finest show
spikes. Gladiolus fans will recite
preferred fertilization programs, but
most gardeners feed at planting
time and as the flower spike takes
form, and produce respectable
looking flowers. Watering when
ever the ground tends to be dry
helps to keep the flower spikes
straight. They droop whenever there
is moisture deficiency and do not
straighten out when water Is sup
piled. To avoid crooked stems on
most varieties water should be given
regularly.
In cutting the flowers for indoor
decoration, it is best to remove as
few leaves as possible so that large
corms will mature. Cut when the
lowest buds are showing color. A
well-grown spike will open every
f1oret after cutting.