olor combination.

It is conceded that second or even third size bulbs of Mrs. Francis King
will throw a better flower spike than bulbs of a similar small size of
most other kinds.

When your flowers are coming on freely and weather turns warmer, don't
forget that cuttings must be made more frequently, and Sunday work
unavoidable.

Some Gladiolus bulbs can stand freezing, though frozen solid. If left in
tight boxes or barrels and allowed to thaw out very slowly without
handling or exposure to air they will not be seriously injured.

When the roots of the gladiolus have attained their full growth, the
surface of the soil should be stirred but lightly, because of the danger
of cutting the roots. Prior to that time, gladiolus bulbs will stand
deeper cultivation.

Write your state experiment station for analysis of commercial
fertilizer best adapted to the Gladiolus. If you contemplate shipping
cut blooms, consult your commission man as to the most satisfactory
method of packing.

Young bulbs from seven eights to one inch in diameter should, if given
space when plants of about two and a half inches apart and well
cultivated, produce a crop approximately half or more first grade bulbs
and the remainder seconds.

One grower never plants gladioli the second time in succession on the
same land. Dr. Van Fleet, the originator of Princeps, who distributed it
through Vaughan's Seed Store, says that the variety should never be
planted on recently manured land, but in a naturally deep, rich,
alluvial soil.

When bulbs are worth only two cents or less and cut blooms selling at
three cents net or over, stalks may be cut close to the ground, giving
foliage much desired by the retail florist. This advice, of course,
applies to other values whenever the flowers are selling well above the
cost of the bulbs.

Gladiolus make roots freely outside in quite cool weather, therefore,
may be planted as early in the spring as ground can be opened, sometimes
certain soils may be heavily mulched with straw in fall and thus kept
unfrozen for very early planting in March.

When cut blooms are selling for less than the value of the bulbs, great
care should be used in cutting to leave four good leaves uncut as these
are necessary to complete the growth and mature a healthy bulb. Two
leaves or even three are not enough to finish and develop a first class
bulb.

For all points south of the Ohio River and in the extreme south second
grade bu