188 THE GLADIOLUS. 



bulbs separated from the old, and the flowering bulbs (the 

 stalk being cut off about an inch from the crown of the 

 bulb) and the bulblets (which on some varieties are plenti- 

 fully produced) put up in paper-bags carefully labelled. 

 During the winter, the bulbs should be preserved in a dry, 

 cool cellar free from frost. 



SOIL. 



A rich light soil is best adapted to the plant. Our prac- 

 tice has been to dig into the beds late in the autumn a quan- 

 tity of well-rotted (at least two years') manure (cow-manure 

 is preferable to any other) ; then in the spring, just before 

 planting, dig the bed again, and pulverize the soil well. In 

 a deep clayey loam with clay subsoil, the plants seldom pro- 

 duce fine flowers. A gravel subsoil seems to suit the plant. 

 Our finest beds are where was formerly a pitch-pine wood. 



SEED. 



Most of the hybrids ripen seed freely ; but no dependence 

 can be placed upon its producing the parent : indeed, for it to 

 do so is the exception, and not the rule. As soon as the 

 seed is ripe, which is known by the bursting of the capsule, 

 it should be gathered, and may at once be sown in a frame 



