The Canadian Horticulturist, 

 THE GLADIOLUS.* 



HAD but little idea of the value of gladiolus when I began to prepare 

 this paper, and I think we have been most fortunate in choosing it 

 for our initial effort. It belongs to the order Iridace^e. The roots 

 are bulbuous ; the leaves linear or sword-shaped, from which it derives 

 its name Gladiolus (Latin for a little sword). The Cape of Good 

 Hope produces the greater number of known species. A few, how- 

 ever, are natives of other countries, and two or three are found in 

 Central Europe ; none are British. The original species have since been super- 

 ceded by the very numerous and beautiful hybrids that are in cultivation, though 

 many of the originals are retained, and are useful in the mixed border. The 

 Hottentots eat the bulbs of some species which contain a considerable quantity 

 of starch. 



The bulbs should be planted in a rich, light, mellow soil, about the 20th of 

 May, if the ground is warm, and, for a succession of bloom, every two weeks till 

 the I St of July. A sunny situation with ground well spaded and thoroughly 

 pulverized, is the most suitable. If the soil is heavy, plant from one to two 

 inches deep ; if light, three to six inches. If bulbs are planted deep they attain 

 a greater size, and are better able to stand a season of drought. They are moisture- 

 loving plants, and, for that reason, they succeed well in England. I think the 

 finest flowers and largest spikes are obtained by late plainting as they come 

 into bloom about the ist of October. If planted early, they should have a light 

 mulching of newly-cut grass. It is one of the richest of our summer-flowering 

 bulbs, and so refined and delicate in quality of color that it is never anything 

 other than satisfactory. If you care for a soft, pale shade, you have it ; if you 

 prefer the brilliant scarlet, crimson or violet, they are before you in every shade. 

 No garden should be without them, or their gorgeous display of bloom. As cut 

 flowers, they are most satisfactory ; and if cut when the first four flowers are in 

 bloom, and placed in water, they will open bud after bud till the whole spike is 

 in bloom. The bulbs should be taken from the ground before danger of frost, 

 put in paper bags and kept in a dry cool place free from frost. 



I am sure we will derive a great deal of pleasure from the cultivation of 

 our gladioli. Horace Smith says, " The purest happiness our hearts can enjoy 

 is that which-is wafted to us from the hearts we have made happy, even as the 

 flowers which we ourselves have planted ever seem to breathe around us a 

 sweeter and more acceptable fragrance." 



Next Year every fruit grower will either want to spray with Bordeaux 

 mixture, or no one will want anything to do with it. Mr. A. H. Pettit is experi- 

 menting in apple orchards in thirty different places, with three gangs of men. 

 Upon the results of such extensive tests will the future of spraying in this Province 

 stand or fall. 



* A paper read before the Grimsby Horticultural Society, by Mrs. E. J. Palmer, Grimsby 



