380 Notes and GkaningSi 



Raising Gladiolus from Seed. — Nothing is easier than to do this ; and, 

 out of a hundred seedHngs, probably there will not be one that is not worth 

 a place in the garden. Great numbers of seedling gladiolus have, of late years, 

 been raised near Boston. We know one amateur, who, at this moment, has about 

 live thousand seedlings in bloom ; and we have rarely seen a more brilliant and 

 varied display even of choice imported varieties. The general eiTect in the gar- 

 den is equally beautiful ; and though the greater part of the flowers will not bear 

 criticism so well, yet there are many among them, that, in every particular, are 

 fully equal to the best French and Belgian varieties. 



Some have been raised, in this neighborhood, of a very distinct and striking 

 character. We have one now in bloom, raised last year, of a uniform purplish- 

 bronze color. A superb spike was exhibited three years ago by a neighboring 

 nursery-man, which showed the finest combination of crimson and white that we 

 have ever seen in this flower. 



The first point is to get good seed. If you cannot do better, }'ou may buy it 

 of a seedsman ; but probably you will get a better result by raising it yourself. 

 Buy two or three dozen of the best varieties, aiming at the greatest diversity 

 and contrast of color. In any favorable season, they will give you a reasonable 

 amount of seed. You may, if you please, convey the pollen of some varieties 

 to the pistils of its neighbors ; but this work of crossing may be dispensed with, 

 as the bees are sure to do it for you in some measure. When the seed is ripe, 

 cut off the stems with the seed-pods on them, and keep them in that state, in a 

 dry place, till spring. Prepare a bed in the autumn by mixing well-rotted leaves, 

 sand, and a little thoroughly-decayed and pulverized manure, with any light gar- 

 den-soil. Mix and pulverize the whole thoroughly, level it, and place on it 

 a common hot-bed frame. Cover it with glasses or boards to exclude the snow, 

 and let it remain all winter. In April, it will be in a proper state for planting, 

 while the surrounding soil is still overloaded with moisture. Towards the end 

 of the month, smooth the surface, scatter the seeds upon it so that they will lie 

 from half an inch to an inch apart, press them down gently with a flat board, 

 and sift light sandy soil over them to the depth of half an inch. Then put on 

 the glasses, and give them the full advantge of the sun, watering from time to 

 time with tepid water as the soil dries. In a week or two, the young seedlings 

 will appear, like blades of grass. Give them air by wedging up the sashes ; and, 

 as the season advances, take these ofT entirely. With this treatment, we have 

 known bulbs as large as a walnut produced from seed in one season. Such 

 a bulb will blossom the next year ; but, in general, it will require three years to 

 bring them into blooming. They rriust be taken up in the autumn, and treated 

 like the large bulbs, or, what is better, kept in dry sand till spring. The seed 

 may be sown as late as the end of May ; but the young plants will not then 

 make so good a growth. 



Instead of using a frame, you may, if you please, sow them in a box of light 

 soil set in a window ; and, for a small number, this is the better way. When your 

 seedlings blossom, you need not be surprised to find among them some new and 

 distinct varieties ; and you will be sure of having a great many attractive and 

 beautiful ones. F. P. 



