iSyi.] THE GLADIOLUS. 43 



The Gladiolus lists are generally issued with the seed catalogues in 

 December, and the bulbs should be ordered as soon after as convenient. 

 Most cultivators agree that the small bulbs throw up the best spikes ; 

 but I leave the nurserymen to send out what size they like, -only they 

 must send them sound and healthy. A large bulb will throw up two 

 or three spikes, and your stock is increased for the next season ; and 

 in new sorts this is important. I will give a list of the best sorts at 

 the end of this article. As soon as the roots are received, place them 

 in a dry airy place, free from frost, until it is time to plant them out. 

 For succession, a planting should be made every two or three weeks 

 from the 1st of March to the end of May. The bulbs should be planted 

 about 3 inches deep, with a little sand under and over them. When 

 the plants are about a foot high, the sticks should be put to them : 

 they are very easily injured by the wind, and the roots will not be 

 injured so much if the plants are secured to the sticks at this early 

 stage of their growth. Waterings and mulching the beds with manure 

 ought to be resorted to as soon as dry weather sets in. The ground 

 being highly manured, there is some danger of over-watering, therefore 

 great caution is necessary here. A few years ago I saw some large 

 beds containing hundreds of the best French varieties in the most un- 

 healthy condition. The soil in which they were planted was some- 

 what heavy, but not unsuitable. The beds had not been mulched, 

 and I felt no doubt, on examining the soil, that over-watering was the 

 cause of failure. If the leaves cannot be kept of a healthy dark green 

 colour, there will be no very good spikes. As the flowers continue to 

 develop themselves they ought to be watched for a small green maggot, 

 which will be found devouring the yet undeveloped flowers. The best 

 time to dig up the roots is about the end of October, cutting them 

 over at the same time, and laying them out in a dry airy place to dry 

 before wrapping them up in paper, in order that they may be stored 

 in boxes until the spring. One peculiarity of the Gladiolus is the 

 manner in which the plants die off suddenly when in apparently luxu- 

 riant health, and it very often happens at the time when you are ex- 

 pecting to be repaid for a whole season's care and anxiety. The first 

 signs of anything being wrong is the spike drooping in the sun. On 

 examining the roots, the young fibres will be found dead or dying. 

 Very often I have found manure in close contact with the bulbs. 

 Blanks will be made in the beds from this cause, and also from bulbs 

 which, although to all appearance healthy when planted, throw up only 

 a few sickly leaves, and ultimately perish. I grow a reserve in pots 

 to meet such accidents. Pot-culture may be disposed of in a few 

 words. A good compost for them consists of three-parts sandy loam, 

 one of leaf -mould, one of rotted manure, and one of sand. I use 5 and 



