1869.] THE GLADIOLUS AS A SHRUBBERY ORNAMENT. 85 



cultivation of ttie Vine more successful than it is in England. The reason of 

 this is, that its natural requirements are thoroughly understood and supplied. 

 When we can say the same regarding many of the tropical and other fruits which 

 we now see so seldom, although the plants themselves have been long in our 

 possession, those fruits will soon be common enough. In addition to the Pine 

 and the Grape, we shall have the Mangosteen from Singapore, the Bombay 

 Mango, the Lechee, Longan, and Yangmae of China, and a number of other 

 fruits from various parts of the world, which will add to the enjoyment and 

 interest of the dinner-table. But first of all we ought to be successful with the 

 Kumquat and some small Oranges from the temperate parts of China, as they 

 come from a cliniate more nearly resembling our own, than does that of the other 

 plants to which I have just alluded. 



From what I have stated of its native country it will naturally be concluded 

 that it is a much hardier plant than the common Orange. In the country where 

 the Kumquat is found in the highest perfection, the common Orange will not 

 survive the winters ; and, on the other hand, the Kumquat, when cultivated in 

 the south of China, does not succeed, although the common Orange is found 

 there in the greatest perfection. The cold winters of the North, which kill the 

 Orange, are favourable to the constitution of the Kumquat. Both plants 

 require warm summers ; indeed, the northern summer is frequently hotter than 

 the southern one. A hot summer temperature, varying from 80° to 100° Fahr., 

 is necessary to enable the Kumquat to form its growth and ripen its new wood ; 

 in winter it will bear without injury from 10° to 15° of frost, and perhaps even 

 a lower temperature than this. 



Keeping in full view the principles I have endeavoured to illustrate, and 

 taking our lesson in cultivation from Nature, there ought to be no difficulty in 

 cultivating the Kumquat in England. If we wish to have it in high health and 

 vigour, we must keep it cold and rather dry in winter. During its season of 

 growth in summer it ought to have a liberal supply of water, and a temperature 

 of from 80° to 100°, and this heat should be kept well up even in autumn, in 

 order that the young wood may be well ripened. 



THE GLADIOLUS AS A SHRUBBERY ORNAMENT. 



^AST year I had between 3,000 and 4,000 Gladiolus bulbs planted in the 

 shrubberies here, principally amongst Rhododendron clumps. Although 

 the summer was so dry and warm, they flowered vigorously, which was, I 

 <$f believe, owing to the particular way in which they were planted, and from 

 their having the benefit of several waterings when the Rhododendrons were 

 watered in June and July. On planting the bulbs, two or three spadefuls of the 

 surface soil was taken off, and some well-rotted horse-manure was dug into the 

 subsoil. The topsoil was then filled in, and three or four bulbs planted in every 

 patch. The soil of these clumps was mostly of a red sandy nature, mixed with 



