DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 227 



twisted out, the roots pulled apart, the old fibres removed, 

 and the different varieties placed in separate paper bags, 

 where they remain a few days until thoroughly dried ; 

 they are then put in boxes and removed to a dry cellar, 

 where they will remain in perfect safety until wanted for 

 planting in the spring. Each variety should have a neat 

 label, with the name, stuck in the ground by the side of 

 the bulb, at the time of planting, and carefully kept with 

 the bulbs when taken up, and placed with them in the 

 bag ; there will then be no mistake. 



Gladiolus Gandavliiis. It is not more than twenty 

 years since this very striking variety was introduced into 

 this country from England. We imported two bulbs, 

 for which we paid one guinea ; color, superb orange, scar- 

 let, and yellow. This variety was raised as a seedling by 

 Van Houtte, and derives its name from the town of Gand. 

 It is a hybrid between G. psittacinus and some other spe- 

 cies, not certainly known. 



G. floribunduSj is a beautiful variety or species ; color 

 shaded-rose, pink, or white. The flowers are very deli- 

 cate, and produced in long crowded spikes. The growth 

 is strong, and the bulb smaller than in any of the describ- 

 ed species, except G. cardinalis. 



G. ramosus. Beautiful rose, marked with white and 

 carmine. The bulbs are small, and if planted the last of 

 May, will bloom well. The growth is much stronger 

 than that of G. cardinalis. 



From these different species have sprang the grand col- 

 lection of hybrid Gladiolus, now so highly esteemed, 

 which have been produced by amateurs and cultivators 

 in Europe and imported into this country, many of the 

 varieties at great expense. But we shall no longer be de- 

 pendent on foreign cultivators for the production of 

 splendid new varieties, for within the last two years 



