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Show Treat Gladiolus Bulbs Now for Thrip, Says Expert Control gladiolus thrips on stored blubs now if you have not already done so, advised Dr. George P. Knowlton, Utah State Agricultural College extension entomologist. en-tomologist. Gladiolus thrips cause winter damage to gladiolus blubs (corms) by getting down under the scales and feeding on the tissues. This reduces vitality of the plants which are to grow next season. If stored in a warm place, this also allows the thrips to become more abundant for attacking untreated untreat-ed plants when they start to grow next spring. DDT dust, used at the rate of only a tablespoon full of 10, 25, or 50 percent DDT powder per 100 corms, and shaken up in a cardboard box or large paper sack should kill all thrips present. Prom the standpoint of protecting the corms from disease as well as thrips, it is advisable to use an equal amount of Arasan with the DDT, thus giving double protection. protec-tion. Gladiolus corms should always be cleaned and treated for thrips control in fall or early winter. Careless growers actually set out their own thrips infestation for next summer's plant injury, when they plant untreated corms in the spring, Dr. Knowlton declared. |