SEPTEMBER. 



GLADIOLI. 



193 



The hybrid Gladioli," says the late Dean Herbert in his 

 valuable work on AmanjUlds, *' flower about the same time 

 as the lioses, and contribute quite as much in general effect to 

 embellish the garden by their fine colours and profusion of 

 bloom. They succeed," he adds, "very well in the natural 

 soil of the garden at Spofforth, which is a good yellowish li-ht 

 loam suitable for barley; and also in the artificial borders of 

 peat and sand, where, however, in dry summers, they stand 

 more m need of water. These hardy crosses are between G. 

 cardinalis, blandus, carneus, inflatus, angustus, and tristis ; 

 and they vary with every shade of colour from white to scarlet, 

 rose coppery, and blackish-purple; and some are exquisitely 

 speckled in consequence of the cross with tristis. They suc- 

 ceed best when grown into a thick tuft, in which state the pro- 

 lusion of blossom is admirable, the cluster of bulbs and the old 

 skins of decayed bulbs permitting the wet to drain away, and 

 preventing the earth from lying too close and heavy on the 

 bulbs in autumn and winter. Clusters have stood undisturbed 

 at bpoftorth above ten years, with the precaution of coverino- 

 them with leaves from November to March or April. There 

 is danger in disturbing and parting them, for numbers will rot 

 It reset separately ; and if they must be divided, it is best to 

 do so in April ; or, if it be done in the autumn, the roots taken 

 up should be potted and turned out again in the spring. The 

 beautiful crosses with hirsutus, recurvus, and versicolor are 

 more delicate plants, and do not succeed well in the border, 

 beedling Gladioli will often flower the first autumn. The best 

 treatment is to sow the seed in pots, and give them shelter till 

 the seedlings are pretty strong, and then turn out the ball 

 unbroken into the border, where they will produce a crowded 

 nosegay of flowers of various shades of colour." From our own 

 experience we may remark, that the tenderer sorts alluded to 

 m the above extract arrive at a high degree of perfection if 

 potted about twelve in as small a pot as\vill hold them, late 

 in the autumn, and planted in a warm border in May. They 

 will require to be shifted once in the early spring ; but should 

 not m the first instance be put in a large pot, as, if the soil is 

 good, they will have plenty of nourishment, and the closer they 

 are planted the more beautiful will be the appearance of the 

 clump when in bloom. Three of the most beautiful species 

 are those sold by the trade under the name of floribundus, 

 gandavensis, and Brenchleyensis. 



At Bury Hill, near Dorking, some plants of Gladiolus 



NEW SERIES. VOL. I. NO. IX. K 



