42 8 HORTICULTURE 



nental and American raisers have been busily engaged in mixing up the bloods of these 

 different groups, all of which originated in the first place from South African species, 

 far inferior to their descendants in size, shape, colouring and vigour. At first only a 

 few well-defined colours appeared, but now there seems to be no limit to the shades and 

 blendings, and hundreds of exquisitely tinted varieties are in cultivation. It was not, 

 however, until 1911 that experts came to the decision that the time was ripe to establish 

 a special society to encourage the more extended cultivation of the gladiolus, and to 

 arrange and classify in some systematic manner the varieties already known, as well 

 as to improve still further the various strains. In America a gladiolus society has been 

 established some time, and growers are taking the keenest interest in this lovely bulbous 

 plant, in conjunction with British and Continental holders of stock. To give some idea 

 of the trade or the developing craze for the gladiolus, it may be mentioned that a Dutch 

 grower recently gave 1,666 for two corms (bulbs) of a variety with yellow flowers called 

 " Glory of Nordwijk;" and there is no doubt that we shall soon be in the midst of a great 

 gladiolus boom. At present the best white-flowered varieties include Albion, Europa, 

 Duchess of Wellington, Prof. Hauber, and ITmmaculee. The finest yellow-flowered 

 forms are Sulphur King, Golden Measure, Goldfinder; in addition to which there are 

 many other lovely varieties. 



Herbaceous Phloxes. Amongst purely hardy flowers perhaps there is none making 

 such progress of late years as the herbaceous phloxes. These plants now have thousands 

 of admirers against dozens not many years back. The ubiquitous hand of the hybridist 

 and cross-breeder is seen in these days among all classes of plants, and the phlox has 

 readily responded to his art. There are now some magnificent varieties in cultivation. 

 The colours vary from the purest white, as in Frau Anthony Buchner and Frau von 

 Lasberg, and the pink, mauve, heliotrope, and the violet-purple of Le Mahdi, to the 

 fine scarlet of G. A. Strohlein and Baron von Dedem. These belong to the " decussata " 

 section and flower in the late summer and during the autumn; the earlier and dwarf er 

 varieties belong to the " suffruticosa " section. Both groups are handsome, and when 

 grown in rich and deeply dug soil they produce immense trusses of blossom. 



Exportations of British-grown Apples, The excellence of the British apple is at last 

 beginning to make itself felt thousands of miles away from home. For many years the 

 British grower has seen the large and increasing importations of apples from the United 

 States, British Columbia, Canada, Australia, Tasmania, etc., and was beginning to think, 

 not unnaturally, that his home markets were about to be swamped. Now, however, 

 owing to the increasing prosperity of South Africa and Buenos Aires in South America, 

 exportations of British apples are being made to these far-off climes. At present the 

 industry is only in its infancy, but it is hoped that the solidity and flavour of the British 

 apple, both due no doubt to a much maligned climate, will enable it to travel long dis- 

 tances and hold its own against all comers. 



The season of 1912 completely upset long cherished views as to the necessity of a hot 

 dry summer being essential for the development of high and rich colours in apples. 

 Notwithstanding the cold and excessive wet, the fact remains that apples were, if any- 

 thing, better coloured than they were in the hot season of 1911, while the flavour is 

 quite up to the standard. Other plants besides apple trees have been remarkable for 

 their more than usually rich colouring, and the Virginian creeper may be cited as a 

 particularly fine example. It is possible that the rains of 1912 were much needed after 

 1911 to give the soil a thorough good soaking, to liberate those earth salts that go to 

 produce richness of colour. 



Potato Growing in America. According to the latest official returns, 3,689,000 acres 

 of potatoes were grown in the United States in 1912, and the estimated yield is put at 

 108 bushels per acre, that is, 2 tons 14 cwt. if a bushel is reckoned at 56 Ibs. In America 

 this is considered a " bumper " crop, and " much above the average." The total crop 

 for the United States in 1912 is estimated at 398 millions of bushels, that is 9,950,000 

 tons. The price is estimated at 25 cents a bushel, or at the rate of just over 2 per ton. 

 The gross yield is therefore at the rate of about ^s.ios.od. per acre such a curiously low 



