FOREIGN AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES 



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The Gladiolus. — The genus Gladiolus now 

 comprehends many brilliant species and varie- 

 ties, and is fast increasing in interest with the 

 floral world. The variety of colors, together 

 with the beauty of its varied stripes and mark- 

 ings, and its graceful habit, recommend it as 

 well worthy the attention of the florist or ama- 

 teur. Like most bulbous plants, Gladioli thrive 

 and flower with less care than most florist's 

 flowers. Being comprised of early and late 

 kinds, they blossom at various seasons of the 

 year: the earliest soi'ts commence flowering in 

 June when planted in the open air, and many 

 of the late kinds continue in blossom up to the 

 very approach of winter. They are perfectly 

 hardy, and may be grown in any common gar- 

 den soil not retentive of moisture ; but sliould 

 the soil be heavy where they are intended to be 

 planted, it should be removed to the depth of 

 about two feet, and replaced by a light rich soil, 

 composed of a mixture of sandy loam and leaf- 

 mold, or sandy loam and peat, allowing six or 

 nine inches for the drainage. 



The Colvillii kinds come very early into flow- 

 er ; they are of taller growth than others of the 

 early sorts, and are of erect, slender habit. 

 They include Colvillii, Colvillii blandus, Colvil- 

 lii superbus, odoratus, tristis, and others; they 

 are succeeded by a more numerous class, which 

 generally commence flowering about two weeks 

 later; the latter are composed of varieties va- 

 rying from a foot to a foot and a half in height ; 

 they comprise a great diversity of colors. 



Other varieties are later, and mostly com- 

 mence flowering about the end of July, or in 

 August ; they are of stronger habit than the 

 preceding kinds, and exceedingly rich, though 

 not so varied in their colors as the earlier sorts. 

 They produce a longer succession of flowers ; 

 many of them throw up lateral spikes of bloom 

 to the latest period of autumn ; and vigorous 

 plants, lifted and potted, continue to bloom dur- 

 ing the winter. 



The varieties of Floribundus, Gandavensis, 

 and other late tall-growing varieties, chiefly 

 come later into flower tlian most of the above. 

 Of these, Splendens is a very noble variety, of 

 a rich orange scarlet, with much larger flowers 

 than Gandavensis. Psittacinus sanguineus, is a 

 good dark one. Brenchleyensis is another 

 splendid addition to this class. 



For pot-culture the Gladiolus is very suitable, 

 making a beautiful show among other plants in 

 the green-house or conservatory, and where a 

 large collection is kept, some may be had in 

 in flower nearly all the year round. In potting, 

 tire roots should not be cramped ; they require 



fair portion of pot-room. Sandy loam and 



or leaf-mould, or any light rich soil, the 



being well drained, suits them well. When 



flrst planted, as is the case with most other 

 bulbs, they will not bear forcing ; they should 

 be allowed to progress gradually, by placing 

 them in a cool frame or pit, and keeping the 

 soil in a tolerably dry state till they have made 

 considerable growth; after which they may be 

 brought into the green-house, or where they are 

 required to flower. They make fine specimens 

 when planted several bulbs in a pot. 



This lovely tribe of jjlants opens a wide field 

 for the hybridist, and the amateur would find 

 it an interesting engagement, in which his skill 

 and time would be richly rewarded. In endea- 

 voring to obtain crosses, the choice should not 

 only be directed to the color and size of the 

 flowers, but chiefly to their expanding habit and 

 breadth of petals; for although there are many 

 fine sorts which do not possess each of these lat- 

 ter qualities, yet they should be the points to be 

 aimed at in our progress towards the improve- 

 ment of the tribe. Seedlings of the early va- 

 rieties usually flower the second summer after 

 sowing, and the later varieties the third. — 

 Beck's Flo>-ist. 



An Acre of Hollyhocks. — Till within these 

 last few years this flower was used as an orna- 

 ment in the X)lantation or shrubbery border on- 

 ly ; but it is now becoming an especial favorite 

 with the professional and amateur florist, and 

 bids fair successfully to rival, if not to outvie 

 the Dahlia. The particular sorts selected for 

 this {lurpose are of a character and family en- 

 tirely diflerent to those formerly grown. In- 

 stead of the bell-shaped blossom, showing a 

 large eye, the new and superior varieties have 

 a semi-spherical flower exceedinglj' double, with 

 closely serried petals, and a flat regular guard- 

 leaf; the blossoms are so thickly i)acked around 

 the stem, that the green leaf can scarcely peep 

 between them, and in the best grown plants it is 

 almost entirely hid. These properties have, in 

 the present season, been obtained in great per- 

 fection by Mr. Chater, of Saff'ron Walden, in 

 whose nursery-grounds, consisting of about six 

 acres, mo7-e than one-sixth is entirely devoted to 

 Hollyhocks, 6,000 of which are now in splendid 

 bloom ; and Saffron Walden may well be proud 

 of such an extensive exhibition. But it is not 

 only in the vast number and variety of colors, 

 but in individual excellence, as has been acknow- 

 ledged by the gentry and florists who have in- 

 spected his collection within the last fortnight, 

 that Mr. C. may fairly challenge the world to 

 compete with him. The size and beauty of color 

 displayed in his seedling Comet, which is a fine 

 ruby red, one would think, at first sight, could 

 scarcely be surpassed. Equally beautiful in 

 their several ditfcvent characters and col 

 his seedlings, — Enchantress, deep rose ; Kosea 

 grandiflora, light rose; Attraction, ele: 



