4 8 



Commercial Gardening 



may be raised from seeds, but the choicer kinds are best propagated by 

 division in autumn. The trade is chiefly in the plants in autumn and 

 spring. The following kinds are best: chiloense, 1-3 ft., scarlet, with 

 better forms, known as grandiflorum, miniatum, &c., and a double one 

 flore pleno] coccineum, 6-12 in., scarlet, with a variety Heldreichi, having 

 a deeper orange-red tint; montanum, 6-12 in., yellow, with a few forms; 

 rivale, 9 in., purple. Perhaps for cut flowers for market work it would 

 be difficult to beat a semi-double variety of G. chiloense named " Mrs. J. G. 

 Bradshaw", which has blooms 2J in. or more across, of a brilliant scarlet 

 crimson, and borne on stalks about 2 ft. high; a splendid plant also for 

 massing in beds or borders. 



Gilia tricolor. A popular Californian annual, 1-2 ft. high, with divided 

 fern - like leaves and tubular flowers of orange, deep and pale purple. 

 There are several varieties, all easily raised in gentle heat, or as hardy 

 annuals. Nivalis is a pure- white kind with an orange eye; achillecefolia, 

 purple blue; capitata, blue; and coronopifolia (or Ipomopsis elegans), 

 scarlet, best treated as a biennial, are amongst the best-known kinds in 

 which a trade is done every spring in seeds and 

 young plants. 



Gillenia trifoliata. A graceful Spiraea-like her- 

 baceous perennial from North America. It grows 

 1-2 ft. high, has slender dark-red stems, three-parted 

 leaves, and loose clusters of white and reddish flowers 

 in June and July. G. stipulacea is somewhat similar, 

 but has loose-shaped deeply cut leaves and white 

 flowers. Both kinds flourish in ordinary garden soil, 

 and like semi-shady spots. They may be increased 

 by division. 



Gladiolus. There are many species of gladiolus, 

 but not one has yet attained sufficient importance to 

 become a market plant. Excluding the European 

 byzantinus and communis, they are mostly natives 

 of Southern Africa. From the florist's point of view 

 the hybrid Gladioli, such, as brenchleyensis, Golvillei, 

 Childsi, gandavensis (fig. 203), Lemoinei (fig. 204), 

 nanceianus (fig. 205), and nanus, are the most 

 valuable; and a great trade is done in the corms or 

 solid bulbs in spring and autumn, and in the flowers 

 in spring and late summer and autumn. For market 

 work G. Golvillei, rose and white, and its variety 

 "The Bride", with pure white flowers, sell well in 

 spring, the spikes being largely used by florists for 

 decorations. The bulbs are placed in pots or boxes 

 in autumn, and covered over with a few inches of 

 soil or ashes until wanted for gentle forcing. This takes place from 

 Christmas onwards. The bulbs are also planted 3 or 4 in. apart in cold 



Fig. 203. Gladiolus Gan- 

 davensis 



