80 GLADIOLUS, CORN-FLAG, OR SWORD LILT. 



G. Byzantinus, or Turkish Flag, has large delicate purple 

 flowers. 



G. cardinalis. This variety produces very large flowers of 

 superb scarlet, spotted with white. 



G. floribundus, or Cluster Flower, produces large flowers 

 >f white and pink colour. 



The Gladiolus Natalensis, or Psitlacina, is perhaps the 

 most desirable to cultivate of all others. It blossoms freely, 

 and the colours are exquisitely beautiful. In its progress of 

 blooming, it exhibits variable colours, as vermilion, red* yel- 

 low, green, white, crimson, &c, which brighten, as the flower 

 arrives at perfection, to the brilliancy of a rainbow. Another 

 good quality displays itself in the bulb, which, if properly 

 managed, will yield an abundance of offsets ; these being 

 cultivated, will flower the third year in perfection, and thus 

 continue to multiply perpetually. 



I have named September and October as the time for 

 planting, because it is considered the preferable season for 

 most bulbs ; but if these be preserved in good condition 

 through the wintei until early in April, and then planted in 

 a soil consisting of about one half fresh loam, equal parts 

 of leaf mould, and sand, well mixed, they may be forwarded 

 in a warm room, green-house, or moderate hot-bed, until 

 settled warm weather, and then turned out of the pots into 

 a border, where they can be shaded from the sun at noon- 

 day ; this will induce each of them to throw up three or four 

 stems, from three to four feet high, each stem producing five 

 or six gorgeous blossoms, in great perfection. Those planted 

 in the autumn or winter, may also be turned out of the pots 

 in June ; and, from the fibres having taken substantial root 

 in the soil before transplanting, such plants may be taken 

 up again in August, or early in September ; and on being 

 planted in large pots, they may be removed, so as to perfect 

 their bloom, within view of the parlour or sitting-room, which 

 will afford considerable amusement and gratification 



