ON THE TREATMENT OF THE GLADIOLUS. 103 



answer better than any other for wintering Carnations, that is, to 

 keep them in troughs fastened to a south wall, with a shelter-board 

 placed over them. The troughs are filled with sawdust or ashes, into 

 which the pots of Carnations are plunged. I find they need no other 

 protection in the severest weather than a mat hung before them. As 

 Carnations require an airy situation, I find this to answer much 

 better than keeping them in a frame, nor do they require half the 

 attention. The "Journeyman Gardener " says gritty sand should be 

 mixed with the soil, but does not tell us where the gritty sand is to be 

 procured. I answer, not from the pit, nor the road side, but the 

 river. I should recommend to a "Young Beginner" the use of wire 

 to fasten the Carnations to the sticks ; it should be about the size of 

 whipcord, and cut in lengths of about three inches; one end of each 

 should be twisted round the stick, and the other formed into a small 

 hook, which is to hold the flower stem. When the stem is placed in 

 the hook, let the wire be gently pressed into an oval form, which will 

 hold the flower so strongly that no fear need be entertained that the 

 wind will destroy any of the Carnation Kings, Queens, Doctors, or 

 Grace Darlings. 



ARTICLE V. 



ON THE TREATMENT OF THE GLADIOLUS. 



BY A FOREMAN OF A LONDON NURSERY. 



Having been honoured and favoured to have several former commu- 

 nications on flowers inserted in the Floricultural Cabinet, I am 

 induced to hope that some observations on the culture of a lovely- 

 tribe of flowers, of which little is said by writers on floral matters, 

 will Lc both interesting and instructive, and lead to a more extended 

 cultivation of the Gladioli in the open flower border, &c. In the es- 

 tablishment where I am employed, and where I have been for twelve 

 years, the following mode of treatment has been pursued with great 

 success. 



Raising Seedlings. — By impregnation of the various sorts we 

 have obtained several fine and very distinct kinds, but at present 

 there is not a stock to offer for sale. These were obtained from plants 

 grown in pots, and kept in a cool pit or the greenhouse. The seeds 

 were sown in spring in pots, in light rich sandy loam, about a quarter 



