104 ON TIIE TREATMENT OF THE GLADIOLUS. 



of an inch deep, and placed in a frame where the heat was temperate ; 

 they soon came up, and were removed into a greenhouse, on the shelf 

 of which, near the glass, they were retained undisturbed, as soon as 

 the foliage changed at the end of summer ; water was withheld gra- 

 dually, so as not to give too sudden a change to the small bulbs. 

 During winter tbe pots were placed at the back of the greenhouse, 

 free from danger by frost, and covered by a saucer to keep them from 

 wet. Early in February water was given, and the pots put in gentle 

 heat ; as soon as the shoots protruded through the skin, the pots were 

 carefully emptied and the bulbs planted singly in small pots, and kept 

 in a cool frame through the summer ; afterwards they were treated 

 as done to strong flowering bulbs. The process of impregnation, 

 saving the seed, &c, is amusing, and the result most amply repays 

 for attention. 



Culture of Flowering Bulbs. — The situation selected is one 

 open to the south, protected on every other aspect, so that the delicate 

 petals are not injured by strong winds. We prefer growing them in 

 masses, thus they make a very showy appearance. When grown in 

 borders with other flowers, we usually plant ten or a dozen in a clump 

 together. About the middle of March the soil is thrown out of the 

 space for the bed, about nine inches deep, a layer of well-rotted dung 

 is spread over the bottom, and pointed in with the under soil; this is 

 covered with about four inches of soil, a sandy loam, and then made 

 even ; upon this surface the bulbs are placed singly, in rows about 

 eight inches apart even - way ; a little sand is laid around each bulb, 

 and then the bed is filled in, covering the bulbs about four inches 

 deep. In dry weather, watering the bed freely in the evening is at- 

 tended to, for if once allowed to shrivel, the flowers soon fade. Care 

 is taken to tie up each plant as it progresses, and nothing can exceed 

 the beauty and interest when in full bloom. The tallest kinds are 

 planted along the centre of the bed, and are so arranged that the 

 blending of the colours may give the most striking contrast, but so 

 that no taller kinds shall conceal the spikes of the dwarfer. Water 

 given over the flowers damages them, and to prevent this a roofed 

 canvas screen is stretched over the bed. These plants bloom from 

 the beginning of June to the end of August. Another bed is planted 

 at the end of April, which comes into bloom about the middle of Au- 

 gust, and continues to the end of summer. 



» 



