oj the JS^atural order Iridacece. 409 



lives of the Cape of Good Hope, and not sufficiently hardy to 

 stand our climate, but require the protection and the warmth of 

 a green-house to produce their flowers, and one or two genera 

 are only brought to perfection in the stove or hot-house depart- 

 ment. 



We believe that not sufficient attention has been given to the 

 plants belonging to this order by our amateur gardeners; whether 

 this neglect has been from want of information in regard to their 

 growth, or from an undue appreciation of their beauty, we are 

 at a loss to suppose; but we are inclined to the belief that it is 

 from both these causes combined: for we do not recollect of 

 ever having seen many plants well grown, nor have we often 

 found them in complete collections of other plants. We have 

 consequently seized this opportunity to lay before our readers 

 such information as we are possessed of, in the hope of drawing 

 more attention to their cultivation. 



The order /ridaceae contains thirty-six genera, all of which 

 possess considerable beauty. The genus />is is well known, as 

 two species are indigenous to our climate, and several others are 

 among the most common flowers of the border known as the 

 flower-de-hs: there are an immense number of species, nearly 

 all of which are handsome plants, and we hope they will all soon 

 be introduced; English catalogues enumerate from fifty to sixty 

 kinds. The Gladioli have also long been cultivated, and are 

 highly valued for their elegance. 



The genera of which we propose some remarks are as fol- 

 lows : — 



Gladiolus. — Plants of this genus are perhaps more cultivated 

 than either of the others; some are perfectly hardy, and the oth- 

 ers require the protection of the green-house. Several hybrids 

 have been raised by the Rev. and Hon. William Herbert, of 

 great beauty, and some other cultivators have also produced a 

 number: we have no doubt but the varieties will eventually be- 

 come very numerous, as the species seed easily, and the young 

 plants come into flower sooner than most other bulbs. The 

 following are a few of the finest: — 



G. cardinalis. — This species is undoubtedly one of the most 

 beautiful. The flowers are of a brilliant scarlet, from six to ten on a 

 spike, and are extremely showy. It requires the protection of a 

 green-house, and will not flourish in the open garden. We set out 

 two or three bulbs in the autumn, in the border; but upon the ap- 

 proach of spring we found them completely rotten; they are impa- 

 tient of too much moisture. The soil most suitable for all the Gh- 



VOL. II. — NO. XI. 52 



