4th February, A. D. 1892. 



ESSAY 



BY 



H. B. WATTS, or Leicester, 



Theme: — Summer Flowering Bulbs. How, When, and What 



to plant. 



The extent of our subject and the shortness of time to be given 

 it, is sufficient reason for at once entering upon its discussion 

 without further preliminary remarks. 



The Gladiokas : This genus of so-called " bulbous" plants, for 

 botauically its " bulb" is a corm, contains ninety species mostly 

 from the Cape of Good Hope, some being found in Central 

 Europe, the Mediterranean region and Western Asia. 



The original species are seldom met with in cultivation, 

 although there are several which would repay attention and be 

 very interesting. Among these might be mentioned, Gladiolus 

 dracocephalus ; G. blandus; G. cardinalis; G. Saundersii; 

 and G. psittacinus. 



But these are insignificant when compared with the beautiful 

 and stately flowers which the art of the hybridizer has produced 

 from Gladiolus gandavensis, a hybrid of G. psittacinus and 

 G. cardinalis, whose varieties at present number over three 

 thousand. The colors, durability, ease of culture, and useful- 

 ness of this type place it at the head of our list of summer 

 flowerino; bulbs. Were it fraorant, the rose would be no lono:er 

 queen. It has been crossed with G. purpureo-auratus, a hardy 

 variety with a weak and few-flowered spike, but having the 

 individual flowers of great beauty ; hence has arisen many 

 varieties which can be at once recognized by the distinct and 

 novel shape and coloring of the flowers. 



