Gardening for Amateurs 



641 



Galtonia. The former flower in May and 

 June, and are followed in late summer by 

 the Galtonias ; the foliage of the Paeonies 

 forms a delightful groundwork for the tall 

 elegant spikes of Galtonia, 3 to 5 feet high, 

 clothed with thirty to fifty drooping waxy- 

 white flowers. Increase is by removal of 

 the offsets in October. Plant the bulbs in 

 October, or February and March, 6 inches 

 deep, and 9 inches to 1 foot apart. It is 

 worth while lifting, dividing, and replanting 

 the bulbs about every fourth year. In 

 rather heavy soils surround the bulbs when 



nearly five months, until, in fact, frosts spoil 

 the flowers in October. Though classed as 

 hardy bulbs, it is only in favoured localities 

 that they can be safely left in the ground 

 during winter. An important reason for 

 annual lifting is that numerous small bulbs 

 are produced round the parent bulb. These 

 need to be removed or they grow and weaken 

 the mother bulb. Heavy rains in winter 

 are harmful to the dormant bulbs unless the 

 soil is very light and sandy. The average 

 garden soil will grow Gladioli successfully. 

 The best ground for growing exhibition. 



The Cape Hyacinth (Galtonia candicans). 



planting with coarse sand, also place a mound 

 of ashes over them in winter for protection 

 when the soil is inclined to be cold and wet. 

 Gladiolus (Sword Lily). The Gladiolus 

 is king of summer- and autumn-flowering 

 bulbs. The spikes last for about a fortnight 

 when cut, the buds continuing to open in 

 water in succession, as they do on the plants. 

 There are two distinct sections, the early- 

 flowering varieties and the large-flowered 

 late summer and autumn Gladioli. In 

 addition to these there are several attrac- 

 tive species of wild types and the varieties 

 of Gladiolus primulinum. We may have 

 Gladioli in bloom out of doors from June for 

 41 



spikes is rich, well-drained loam, deeply dug, 

 and in which leaf-mould, decayed manure 

 and wood ashes are mixed. The favourite 

 position for Gladioli is in groups of half-a- 

 dozen bulbs or more at intervals along the 

 mixed flower border. The position must be 

 a sunny one ; the late summer and autumn- 

 flowering kinds are excellent in the open 

 garden, while the smaller, early-flowering 

 section are best on a warm, sheltered border. 

 It is worth while devoting beds and borders 

 to Gladioli if one has ample garden space, 

 in which case it is advisable to carpet the 

 ground with a low-growing flower, the 

 Tufted Pansy, for instance. The bulbs of the 



