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Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



quaint and pleasing. They droop on their stems at a height of 

 about a foot from the ground. The Snake's Head looks very well 

 in grass, and it may be grown on the rockery, or near the front of 

 the border. Well-drained sandy soil should be provided, and the 

 bulbs may be put 4 ins. deep in autumn. White and pink varieties 

 of Meleagris are procurable, and there is a yellow species named 

 aurea. 



Funkia (Plantain Lily). The bulb dealer handles this pretty, 

 broad-leaved, Lily-like plant, which thrives in shady places, and 

 looks well near the front of the herbaceous border. The variegated - 

 leaved varieties look well in pots in conservatories and rooms. They 

 may be put in the bulb compost in autumn. Fortunei and subcor- 

 data grandiflora are two of the best plain-leaved forms for the 

 garden. Undulata variegata is a pretty striped sort. 



Gladiolus. The most beautiful of all the pseudo-bulbous plants, 

 and one to which special attention should be devoted. Combining, 



as it does beautiful form, 

 graceful habit, and bril- 

 liant colours with a period 

 of blooming which brings 

 it between the summer 

 and autumn flowers, it 

 is almost indispensable. 

 Gladioli are not difficult 

 plants to grow if the soil 

 ' y is well drained and free 

 from wire- worm, but they 

 do not like stiff, damp) 

 soil, and on newly broken 

 pasture-land they suffer 

 severely from ground 

 pests. Well-drained loamy 

 soil suits them best. It 

 should be broken up deeply and a coat of decayed manure put 

 under the top-spit. If this is done in winter, the surface may be 

 left rough and dressed with soot or wood ashes to which super- 

 phosphate or bone flour at the rate of lb. per square yard 

 has been added. This should be dug well in. The corms may 

 be planted a foot apart and 3 ins. deep in April. The plants 

 will need staking before they come into bloom. The smaller, 

 early-blooming varieties, like Blushing Bride (delicatissima), 

 cardinalis, and Colvillei alba, are gcoi for pots, and may be put in 

 the bulb compost in autumn and treated like other bulbs. The 

 flower gardener who does not care to specialise Gladioli under 

 names may buy mixed hybrids of Gandavensis, Childsii, and 

 Lemoinei. He should also get the fine scarlet Brenchleyensis, 

 which is brilliant in colour, lasts long in beauty, and is cheap. If, 

 however, he wants a collection of named varieties he might procure 

 the following: 



INCREASING GLADIOLI. 



i. New corm. 3. Spawn. 4. Small corms. 

 5. Old decayed corm. 



Angele, tinted white 

 Arrnagnac, crimson 

 Black Prince, violet 



Canicule, scarlet, lemon throat 

 Halle, blush 

 Hercules, scarlet 



