76 EECOKD OF HORTICULTUilK. 



two or three years will produce large ones, like the parent 

 bulb. The Gladiolus increases, not by natural divisions as 

 with some other bulbs, but by the formation of buds that 

 produce flower stems, which in turn form bulbs at their base, 

 as before stated. Some kinds increase very slowly, others 

 quite rapidly ; if by examining the bulbs when taken up 

 in the autumn we find but one bud on its upper surface, it 

 indicates but one stem and one bulb the next season ; but 

 when two or more buds are observed, then we can depend 

 upon a corresponding increase in bulbs. If a more rapid 

 increase is desirable than can be obtained from the large 

 bulbs, then the small bulblets may be saved for this pur- 

 pose. With some varieties it is better to plant these in the 

 fall, covering the beds, where they are sown, with four to 

 six inches ol some kind ol mulch for protection. 



We have found that, by planting in the fall, nearly every 

 bulblet Avill grow, which is seldom the case if the opera- 

 tion is deferred until spring. Whether this fall planting 

 will do for all varieties we can not say, for it is well known 

 that some are far more hardy than otheVs ; but with the 

 few that we have tried, better success has been obtained 

 than when planted in spring. The small bulblets are more 

 hardy than the mature bulbs, as they do not contain so much 

 fleshy matter, and consequently are not so liable to injury 

 by frost. The fall planting is worthy of trial by Gladiolus 

 growers. Where there is a propagating-house at hand, 

 the small bulblet may be forced into growth at almost 

 any time by artificial heat. The new bulbs produced 

 from the bulblet should be taken up at the end of the 

 second season and treated the same as those that are full- 



