Evening star., 1946-05-12
Time for Planting
IDahlias and Glads
Fast Approaching
By Louise Hendey

udIlllaS ana gladlOluSeS. You Will
probably put the "glads" in first,
especially if you like to show them
at the gladiolus shows in late sum-
mer. If you have a good stock
OF bulbs which have been well cared
for you are lucky, for. glad bulbs
seem to be scarce
1t may be timely to recall some
rules for growing the finest possible
flowers from the bulbs you have. 1t
is to be hoped that you have not
had an infestation of thrips and
that your bulbs were properly dug
and cleaned and put away for the
winter, ready now to put into the
ground.
After the plants are 4 to inches
high it is we'll to begin to dust or
spray. Almost any good spray or
dust containing derris or pyrethrum
Or both is recommended. Experts
still prefer spray made with brown
sugar and tartar emetic. Since
sugar is rationed, use corn sirup
molasses or honey tablespoonsful
to gallons of water. If thrips are
very bad use this spray every three
or four days. Otherwise once every
10 days may be often enough.
Cultivate the glads we'll. A good
dust mulch will keep down weeds,
aerate the soil and conserve mois-
ture.
Plants Need Fertilizer.
When the plants are growing we'll
an application of ordinary garden
fertilizer, probably 5-10-5, should
be made. Use pounds for 100 feet
of row. Applys Gin bands on either
side of the row, about or inches
away from the plant. Another ap-
plication should be made about 10
days before Towering This time
add more nitrogen to the fertilizer.
Water well. Do not sprinkle, but
allow the hose to run long enough
to thoroughly soak the earth. Lack
of water will produce short, crowded
spikes.
If you have grown your flowers
we'll you will need to do some stalk
ing. With only few bulbs, the in
dividual stalk may be staked, but
on long rows of plants drive stakes
at both ends of the row and then
every Is to 20 feet along the row
and stretch wire or heavy cord about
2 feet above the ground.
The best time to cut a gladioluS
blossom is when the second floret
on the spike begins to open. If the
weather is very cool allow three or
four f1orets to open. At any time
put the spikes in deep water in
cool place.
Dahlias may be planted a week
later than the glads. If you have
not carried over without winter in
jury the choice dahlia roots of last
year, you will need to buy new ones.
Whether you choose plants or roots,
1t is important TO begin with strong
stock.
Many Varieties Available.
In the large flowered dahlia group
you may choose formal or informal
decorative, cactus, semicactus or in
curved cactus. If you prefer smaller
ones, there are the pom-pom Il to 2
inches across, the star and the COL
larette a to inches, the single
a to inches and the ball "A to 6
inches) across You may choose
from most plain colors and a multi
tude of shades and combinations of
shades.
1t has been learned that the
foliage which is reddish or bronzy
is less attractive to Jap beetles than
any other. The beautiful Bishop
of Llandoff has been especially free
from beetle injury according to some
growers. A good dahia will have
good stem-strong enough to hold
up large flower. The flowers will
have stiff necks and will be perfect
flowers for the type. The amount
Of disbudding that is done will
largely determine the size of the
flower.
If you are beginner the follow
ing short list of suggested varieties
may help:
Formal decorative-Jersey Beauty
Alfred Lunt. Rose Fallon Adele
Henderson. King Peter.
Informal decorative Jane CoWl,
California Idol, Cherokee Brave.
Dahliamum Premier's Winsome.
Semica ctus-All American, Mich
igan White, Son of Satan.
Miniatures - Bishop of Llandof,
Chico. Little Diamond, Little Col
onel, Coralette.
Pompom-Amber Glow. Betty Ann,
Little Edith, Red Warrior, yellow
Com