62 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



— as is shown by tlie success of ]\Ir. Putnam, whose ground is slop- 

 ing and well drained so that water never stands on it. Lilium 

 auratum needs the same soil. 



Mr. Endicott said he gave his gladioli plenty of room, so as to 

 run a cultivator between them, but they can be planted more 

 closely. He had seen Brenchleyensis only four inches apart, and 

 the bulbs apparently must almost have touched each other. Those 

 who will take the pains can have a great number in a very small 

 space. Thev will grow well at a distance of three by six inches 

 apart ; but it is more trouble to take care of them than where they 

 have plenty of room. If his space were limited he would plant 

 them closel}'. 



Hon. Marshall P. Wilder spoke of the practical and sensible 

 character of the essaj'. The Gladiolus Natnlensis was introduced 

 here moie than fifty years ago, and a colored plate of it was pub- 

 lished by C. M. Hovey in 1834 in the first volume of his maga- 

 zine. In considering the improvement of the gladiolus, hybridiz- 

 ing appears in a very favorable light; we see that it opens abound- 

 less field. It may be applied to every farail}- of vegetables. He 

 could remember wiien not a tree pa^ony had a shade of red in it, 

 when all at once came Eiizabetha, for which he paid about three 

 hundred francs. There is no end to variety when the species once 

 " breaks," and we may get a blue gladiolus. He would not be sur- 

 prised if some of those present should live to see a blue rose. 

 Professor Gray was not surprised when the speaker told him of his 

 success in crossing the Liliuvi kutcifoliuvi with Gloriosa superba. 

 He had seen a statement in the " Gardeners' Chronicle" that the 

 strawberry and raspberry had been crossed ; he could not credit 

 it, but it might be possible for all that. The blackberry has been 

 crossed with the raspberry. Mr. Wilder concluded by urging those 

 present to go on in crossing fruits and flowers, and the}' would 

 produce varieties whicli would cause their names to be remembered 

 with gratitude. 



O. li. Iladwen said that the essa}- was most satisfactory and in- 

 structive. The gladiolus will keep a long time in water in the 

 house ; he had ke[)t them good two weeks, and over ; when start- 

 ing on a journey he put a vase of gladioli in the car, and at the 

 end of the journey, which lasted twelve days, the flowers were in 

 good condition. Its colors are fine and happily blended. He 

 had indulged in cultivating a large numl)er of varieties, and had 



