OTX THE CULTURE OF GLADIOLUS PSITTACINUS 77 



grown considerably, and were then repotted in a mixture of two 

 parts loam, one part peat, and one part leaf soil : they were placed 

 in a dry cool part of the greenhouse, and have now (Feb. 3d,) 

 sent out three or four stems from each root, those from last year's 

 seedlings being three inches high, those from the previous year's 

 six or eight. 



In the summer of 1836, I put out into the open border, one or 

 two seedlings raised the previous spring, but the transplanting 

 checked their growth, and the stems died down. The root of 

 one however survived, though totally unprotected, and flowered 

 in the summer of 1838, though not so finely as those kept in pots 

 in a cold frame during the winter, and removed into the green- 

 house in spring. 



Loudon in his Hortus Brittannicus states the Lychnis Fulgens 

 to be a native of Siberia, introduced into England in 1822; it 

 may therefore be supposed hardy enough to be ranked amongst 

 our border plants, but its beauty will well repay for a little extra 

 care. 



I think probably, seeds sown in the border and protected by a 

 glass until frosts are over, would succeed, and during the winter, 

 some manure, or coal ashes over the roots might be sufficient, 

 but as mentioned before, one plant withstood the trying spring of 

 1837, without any protection whatever. Being a tuberous root, 

 the best time for dividing it would be the autumn, or before 

 potting it for the winter. 



I would scarcely believe the report I received with any seed- 

 lings in 1836, that the colour was equal to that of Verbena Mc- 

 lindrus while the blossom was an inch across : but this far from 

 being an exaggerated description, was quite correct as to the 

 brilliancy of the hue, and below the truth as regards the size oi' 

 tltf? flower, mine being about two inches across ; and when two or 

 ihrce were open at the same time they were almost too dazzling 

 to look at, for long together. 



ARTICLE III. 

 ON THE CULTURE OF GLADIOLUS P&ITTACJNUS" 



BY W. W. 



Havinc; derived much useful instruction from the perusal of lii>> 

 Floricultural Cabinet, which I have taken in from its commence- 

 ment, induces nte to request you to insert, in an early number, 



