1869.] ' THE GLADIOLUS. 543 



inches above the ground, put a neat stake, about 5 feet high, to each, 

 and tie up as soon as they need support. This is another little bit of 

 attention which careless growers too long neglect, and the consequence 

 is, that the wind does more damage to the unsupported stem than can 

 be remedied for the season. When early and properly tied, the spike 

 grows up as straight as a lance. The roots of Gladioli go so deep into 

 the soil, that in ordinary seasons they do not require watering in our 

 country ; but in exceptionally dry times, or in exceptionally dry ground, 

 occasional watering is indispensable. A simple and effectual plan of 

 watering them, as I have over and again proved, is to remove with the 

 point of a trowel a little of the earth from half a dozen of them, near 

 the stem at one side, taking care not to touch the bulb. Fill the holes 

 successively with water several times, and then draw the earth back 

 again. Though it takes a considerable time — which, however, the 

 florist will not grudge — to go over a large bed in this manner, yet it is 

 the best plan I know to make the water reach the roots. As the sum- 

 mer advances, it is certain that rust will manifest itself in a proportion 

 of the plants, greater or less as the grower has been careful or careless 

 in his previous treatment. It is a bad symptom when the foliage gets 

 hard-bound about the stem, and of a dirty brown colour. A plant 

 thus affected may flower, but after that it should be thrown away with- 

 out compunction. No one understands the cause of this fell disease, 

 and it is the more mysterious, seeing that from the same root will come 

 a healthy and an unhealthy stem ; and when this is the case, at taking- 

 up time cut away the diseased stem right down through the old corm, 

 and there is a strong chance of the healthy one being no worse of its 

 bad company. 



Of course every one who grows Gladioli knows that they do not 

 ripen equally ; yet, knowing this, many lift their whole stock at the 

 same time. This plan cannot be commended, as it is neither advisable 

 to let those really ready stay too long in the ground, nor to take up 

 the late flowering ones too soon. Early in October the earliest flowered 

 will very likely be ready for taking up. The practised eye knows the 

 exact stage of yellowness in the foliage at which it is safe to lift the 

 bulb. I have seen it recommended, by those who ought to have known 

 better, to take up the bulbs even though the foliage be pretty green. 

 To following this very bad advice, I have no doubt many of the failures 

 of the following season may be attributed. When lifted at the proper 

 time, the bulb remains firm and plump ; but if lifted too soon, it becomes 

 softish and shrinks, and it must be impaired in strength. Now, one 

 of the secrets of keeping the bulbs healthy for a long series of years is 

 to let them remain in the ground till the proper stage of ripeness is 

 reached, even though the weather be rough and the season well ad- 



