GESNERAS. 



219 



GLADIOLUS. 



are capable of receiving nourishment from 

 the earth. 



In plants with a soft covering, as the 

 bean, the radicle A (Fig. 2) is directed to 

 the outside of the seed ; it is the rudiment 

 of the root, and this is the first part which 

 develops itself in germinating. The 



FIG. 2. FORMATION OF KIDNEY 11EAN. 



plumule B, on the contrary, ascends to- 

 wards the centre of the grain, and becomes 

 the stem, while the two cotyledons c, c, 

 remain in the soil between the root and 

 stem, yielding nourishment to the young 

 plant until the root can perform that 

 office. 



Gesne ras (nat. ord. Gesnera'cese). 



Showy hothouse tuberous-rooted and 

 herbaceous plants mostly with scarlet 

 flowers. They are propagated by increase 

 of the tubers or by cuttings, which require 

 a little bottom-heat, and should be placed 

 in peat. The tubers should be set in a 

 compost of peat, loam, and sand, in $-in. 

 ]xjts, which should be well provided with 

 drainage. There are many varieties. 

 Great care is required in their culture, 

 and the plants often suffer injury from 

 thrips. 



Gilia. See Annuals, &c. 



Gladiolus. 



The hybrid varieties of the gladiolus are 

 very numerous and very beautiful, and their 

 treatment may be summarised as follows : 

 The grand display of flowers is made by 

 these plants in June and July, and if seed 



s no object the flower stems should be cut 

 down, or rather shortened, by removing the 

 withered flower spike, when many of the 

 bulbs will throw a second flower-stem. 

 The stems could only be cut down as far 

 as the first leaf, as the leaves continue fresh 

 and beautiful, and the second flower stem 

 often proceeds as a lateral from this point. 

 They are easily increased by seed ; but, as 

 they are already so numerous, it is as well, 

 perhaps, to leave this mode to] the growers. 

 The only drawback is that, in the most 

 favourable circumstances, gladioli will not 

 remain in bloom for longer than two 

 months. 



Propagation and Culture. When taker 

 up in November, they should be put away, 

 with their old fibres and some soil adhering 

 to them, in a dry room, the temperature 

 not being allowed to sink under 40. Pre- 

 pare for planting in the following March, 

 by carefully rubbing off the old roots and 

 soil adhering at the bottom of the bulb, 

 and carefully save all this di'bris ; you will 

 then perceive that each bulb asks you to 

 divide it into two sometimes three or 



GLADIOLUS GANDAVENSIS. 



four ; that is, they will almost split them- 

 selves, and will have so many embryo 

 shoots. After dividing and planting your 

 bulbs, examine the debris* and you will 



