1879.] GLADIOLUS-CULTURE. 201 



but ought to be long enough to tie the spikes to as they advance. If 

 the spikes are intended for exhibition, shading must be resorted to, as 

 well to preserve the lower flowers as to enhance the purity of the 

 flowers. Spikes that come on too early may be kept in good condition 

 placed in bottles of water and set away in a very cool cellar. Keep- 

 ing a little clean water in the opened flowers is supposed to preserve 

 these from fading so soon as they would otherwise do. Any indivi- 

 dual flower not set straight on the spike is easily worked into posi- 

 tion. 



With regard to harvesting the corms, there is no particular hurry for 

 this operation being performed ; indeed, it may be considered some- 

 what problematical whether it were better to take them up in autumn 

 or to leave them in the ground over the winter and transplant in 

 spring. Taken up in autumn, many of them are yet quite green in 

 foliage ; allow this to ripen by placing the stock on the floor of a cool 

 vinery, or in any other place where like conditions are obtainable. 

 When the foliage becomes yellowish it separates readily from the 

 corm. The roots should be cut off at same time, but not too closely, 

 the young brood carefully picked from the base of the corm, and pre- 

 served, and these latter stored away for the winter. I leave all the old 

 coatings of the corm intact until before being planted, as it is a most 

 efficient means of keeping them from the air during winter. They 

 winter very well thus, laid on shelves in a cool room. The young 

 brood I pack away amongst dryish sand until spring, when they are 

 planted out thickly in rows. The ground is carefully prepared, drills 

 drawn 9 inches apart, a little sand sprinkled along the bottom of the 

 drills, and the bulblets pressed in 4 inches apart. They are left 

 here till they flower, which will be the second year after planting with 

 most of them; they are afterwards treated like the other flowering 

 stock. 



Those who incline to raise seedlings from seed of their own saving- 

 would be obliged, in Scotland, to start the plants intended for seeding 

 earlier. Good kinds alone should be grown for this purpose. The 

 seed-bearing plants ought further to be cross-fertilised with pollen 

 from other good sorts. As the seed-pods show signs of approaching 

 ripeness, watch them, and pick off the pods as they become ready, lay- 

 ing them out in a dry and warm structure to finish. Use boxes for 

 raising and growing the seedlings in, sowing about the beginning of 

 April in a rich open compost. Cover the surfaces with moss and keep 

 moist. A very slightly-heating dung hotbed and frame is a very suit- 

 able place for the purpose of giving the seedlings a start. Air must 

 be admitted gradually at first, increasing it until the plants are grown 

 in the open air. In order to have good bulbs that will flower the 

 ensuing year, there must be no neglect in the matter of watering. 

 On the approach of cold days and nights in autumn, it will be beneficial 

 to have them removed to a cool structure to finish growth. Allow 



