Flowers all the Year Round 



'considerable amount of daylight is necessary to the development of 

 rich tints and diversified markings in the foliage. The essentials far 

 raising plants from seed are good drainage, a temperature which does 

 hot fall below 65, the careful employment of water, aiid the early 

 transfer of the -seedlings. The green plants may be thrown away 

 immediately they -reveal their character, but those which show 

 delicate tints in the small teaves will abundantly compensate for -aM 

 the a ; re bestowed upon them. 



DianthliSk Put the seedlings into single pots, and harden in 

 Readiness for transplanting to the open in May or June. 



Gaillardia. To secure a supply of plants for the open ground 

 in May, seed of all the varieties may be sown during this month. 

 Prick off early and keep them dwarf. 



Gladiolus. This is one of the most stately and beautiful flowers 

 grown in our gardens. Some of the varieties are strikingly brilliant ; 

 others are exceedingly delicate in tint and refined in their markings. 

 The culture may be of the most primitive kind, or it may become one 

 of the fine arts of horticulture. Simply put into the ground and left 

 to fight their own battle, the corms sometimes produce splendid 

 spikes of 'flower, although not so imposing as better culture might 

 have made them. Or they may receive the connoisseur's skilful care, 

 resulting in flowers of magnificent size and splendid colour. 



The main work of preparing the ground should be done in 

 autumn. Now it is only necessary to give the soil two or three light 

 forkings, and those not deep enough to bring the buried manure to 

 the surface. This frequent stirring is beneficial in itself, and it pro- 

 motes the destruction of the foes which prey upon Gladiolus roots. 

 Small Potatoes, roughly hollowed out, pieces of Carrot, and Rape 

 Cake, may be used as traps for wireworm and other vermin. Planting 

 is sometimes done at the end of this month, but as a rule it is better 

 to wait until the beginning of April. 



Gloxinia. There is yet time to secure a brilliant summer dis- 

 play from seed. Bulbs which have been stored through the winter 

 need attention. Where these flowers are wanted early, and there is 

 plenty of room, a commencement will probably be made in February ; 

 but in the greater number of gardens March is soon enough. Assum- 

 ing the bulbs to be sound, they should be potted in a mixture of 

 loam, peat, and sand. Those which start first must be re-potted for 

 a forward supply. While growing, manure water twice a week will 

 help to produce fine flowers, intense in colour ; but when the flowers 

 open, the liquid manure must be abandoned, and pure soft water 



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