62 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



THE GLADIOLUS. 



^HIS extensive genus comprising some ninety species, na- 

 tives mostly of Central Europe and West Africa, is now 

 the most popular of summer and autumn flowering bulbs, 

 constituting one of the finest features of the flower garden, for 

 diversity of color, and general effect, either in masses or in 

 border decoration, backed by the new French Cannas, with 

 their tropical foliage, and large flowers of unequalled and 

 dazzling brilliancy. 



They are of easy culture and will thrive in ordinary garden 

 soil, prepared in the autumn and liberally enriched with well- 

 rotted cow manure. Change their location as often as possi- 

 ble, or fertilize with hardwood ashes. Plant in open ground 

 two inches or more between the bulbs, in drills six inches 

 apart, or in masses, four to six inches deep (small seedlings 

 two inches), avoiding contact with the manure. Water freely 

 when dry and you may expect plants four to six feet high with 

 flowers over four inches across. For the best results cut the 

 spike when the first flower opens, and bloom in the house, 

 this will also strengthen the bulb. Planting may begin with the earliest garden 

 work, and where your collection embraces all sections, as in my mixtures and 

 seedlings you will get without repeated plantings, a succession of bloom from 

 July until frost. Dig the bulbs before the ground freezes, cut off the stalk close 

 to the bulb, and after drying for a short time in the open air, store in baskets or 

 shallow boxes, in a cool dry place. The old corn may be removed a month 

 later, and if desired the bulblets collected and stored until planting time, when 

 if peeled and planted in drills they will make blooming bulbs with one or two 

 seasons' culture. Varieties are increased in this way. New varieties are 

 originated from seed, and can be grown as easily as onions, care being taken to 

 water during hot weather. 



The original Gladiolus Gandavensis, the variety in general cultivation, is a 

 hybrid between the Cape species G. psittacinus and G. oppositiflorus and was 

 offered first to the trade fifty years ago, since then the varieties have been 

 increased by thousands, this cross overcoming the difficulty experienced in getting 

 the many species to hybridize, and every cross between selected varieties of 

 merit in most cases tends to improve the beauty and size of the flower and vigor 

 of the plant. 



Hybrids of purpureo-auratus, Lemoinei or Large spotted gladioli, — The 

 first hybrid of this section was the result of crossing G. gandavensis on G. pur- 

 pureo-auratus. An immense variety of colors and blotches are the character- 

 istic of this race which is increasing in favor with the amateurs of every country. 

 The newer varieties are almost free from crooked stems, and the beauty of their 



