Plate 556. 

 GLADIOLUS— ROBERT LODGE. 



That the lovers of the Gladiolus in England can raise fine 

 and striking varieties of this flower, we know from the fact 

 that years ago Mr. Standish, of Ascot, brought out some very 

 fine ones ; and that Mr. Kelway, of Langport, has exhibited 

 during the past few seasons flowers of remarkable promise ; 

 while in the flower we now figure we have an example of the 

 success which has attended the skill of our friend Mr. Douglas. 



There is no flower which so tries the patience of the culti- 

 vator. We have grown it this year as usual, have had fine 

 flowers, and then the plants have been attacked with disease, 

 and the bulb perishes. Some of our best sorts were thus 

 lost this year ; and we fear the frequent recurrence of this 

 disease will greatly tend to check the increased growth of this 

 beautiful autumn flower. 



Mr. Douglas, the very able gardener of Mr. Whitborne, of 

 Loxford Hall, Essex, is unquestionably our most successful 

 amateur grower, and is now taking a prominent place as a 

 raiser of seedlings, Mohert Lodye being, in our opinion, one of 

 the best he has raised. It is a flower of the same type as 

 Michel Ange ; the colour a brilliant carmine, with a white 

 line in the centre of each petal ; and it will, we think, bear 

 comparison with some of the best of M. Souchet's new 

 varieties. 



