288 THE CULTURE OF FLOWERING BULBS 



FRITILLARIA 



FRITILLARIAS produce bell-shaped flowers, varying in colour, but 

 generally of a purplish tint, and beautifully spotted. They thrive 

 best in a good deep loam, but may be grown in almost any soil, and 

 do well under the shade of trees. They are quite hardy, and like 

 most other bulbs should be planted in autumn. 



GLADIOLUS 



THE Gladiolus is adapted for many important uses. It associates 

 admirably with Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Pyrethrums, and Phloxes, in the 

 furnishing of clumps on the lawn and in the mixed border. It is 

 perfectly at home and in harmony with surroundings when planted 

 in front of American beds and on the margin of the mixed shrubbery. 

 To supply cut flowers it is invaluable, for they retain their freshness 

 in a vase for many days, and a plentiful supply should be grown in 

 reserved spots expressly for indoor decoration. Some flowers are 

 resplendent in the richness of their colouring, others delicately beau- 

 tiful, with markings so refined that they command the admiration of 

 tastes the most cultivated. 



The culture depends very much on the end in view. To secure 

 a brilliant and varied display in the garden is one thing ; to stage a 

 collection of flowers capable of holding their own at some great 

 floral exhibition is another. Treatment that will be ample for the 

 embellishment of the garden will prove inadequate to secure success 

 in a keen competition, and we therefore propose to give a few prac- 

 tical directions to assist both objects. 



The Gladiolus may be grown by simply planting the bulbs in April, 

 and leaving them to take care of themselves. A better return will 

 generally be obtained than this neglectful method deserves. But a 

 lover of these flowers will scarcely treat them in so primitive a fashion, 

 and the pleasure to be derived may be entirely commensurate with 

 the care and attention bestowed upon them. Almost any soil can be 

 made to answer, but that which suits them best is a good medium, 

 friable loam, with a cool rich subsoil, and each one must decide for 

 himself how far this is within reach naturally, or can be secured by 

 resources at command. Thus a light soil may be made suitable 

 by placing a layer of rotten cow-manure a foot below the surface, 



