116 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 
may be; if it does not produce offsets when it first 
flowers, it never will, and, with very rare exceptions, it is 
thrown among the mixtures. Why one variety increases © 
so fast, and another not at all, is another of the 
mysteries that attends the cultivation of the Gladiolus. 
We have taken from a single corm of Brenchleyensis, not 
half an inch in diameter when planted, more than two 
hundred little corms, while we should consider ourselves 
fortunate in getting a dozen from many of the other 
varieties. Most of the yellows increase with equal rapid- 
ity. This will, in a measure, account for the differences 
in price of many old-established varieties. Noticeably 
among these is Princess Mary of Cambridge, a truly 
splendid flower, which does not increase with us by off- 
sets, and its increase in Europe is but slow. La 
Candeur increases rapidly with us and but slowly in 
France. We find, in this country, that its increase in 
some sections is far more rapid than in others. 
The little corms, or sets, may be sown as early in 
the spring as the soil can be put in suitable condition. 
Prepare the ground the same as for peas, sow in the 
drills quite thickly, say one hundred to the foot of drill; 
cover with half an inch of fine soil, work in the same 
manner as recommended for the seed bed, only mulching 
is unnecessary. ‘Take up as soon as the leaves begin to 
wither, which is usually about the middle of September, 
store in the same manner as the young seedlings. ‘The 
bulbs from the offsets will be somewhat larger than 
those from seed, but no greater proportion of them will 
flower the second year. ; 
General Cultivation of the Gladiolus.—For early 
flowers plant the corms as soon as the ground is in condi- 
tion for planting, no matter how early; even though the 
surface may freeze slightly after planting, it will not 
injure the corms in the least. It is the better plan to 
reserve the larger and stronger corms for late flowering, 
