TJie Gladiolus. 8i 



inches deep, according to tlie size, the largest being planted deepest. Soon 

 after the shoots appear, give the first tying ; a second being necessary when 

 the flower-stalk appears. After the bloom has faded, cut off the flower- 

 stalk, unless it is desirable to ripen seed ; and, about the last of October, 

 take up the bulbs, dry them in the sun for a day, trim and clean them, and 

 preserve them until spring in a cool, dry, frost-proof cellar. 



In setting the bulbs, the best effect is produced by planting them from 

 nine inches to a foot apart each way • and, where each one is tied to a stake, 

 the effect is very fine when in bloom. 



These hybrids generally increase rapidly ; the old bulb, or conn, dying, 

 and producing as many new bulbs as there are stems : they vary in number 

 from one to seven. 



Around tlie base of the old bulb w^e always find more or less little bulb- 

 lets which have made no leaves : these may be depended upon to produce 

 the original variety. They should be removed, labelled, and allowed to 

 rest for a year ; then sown, and they will come up as thick as grass : if sown 

 the next spring, the larger number do not grow. We are aware that there 

 is different experience in this respect, some advocating sowing the bulblets 

 the next spring ; but with us the results of such practice have not been 

 favorable. 



Many varieties produce seed freely. It should be gathered when ripe, 

 and sown in a frame or in pots or pans the next spring. The young plants 

 grow rapidly, and generally bloom the third year. They may, however, 

 by extra forcing and care, be bloomed in half that time. We know of no 

 ■greater pleasure in our garden than watching our large beds of seedling 

 gladiolus. Every flower is a new revelation different from the others, un- 

 like its companions, and often far finer than imported varieties. 



We had almost forgotten to speak of the gladiolus as a parlor-plant; not 

 for parlor-culture, but for ornamentation. For cut-flowers it has no equal. 

 Place a spike in water of which the lower blooms are just opening : it will 

 go on and expand every flower, often continuing weeks in full beauty. 



For a list of varieties we are somewhat at a loss : of many of the more 

 recent foreign kinds we cannot speak from experience, as we scorned the 

 folly of importing gladiolus at a price of from three to five dollars a bulb, 

 when we had thousands of which many were quite as fine. 



