THE GLADIOLUS. 189 



or greenhouse, or carefully dried and preserved until the 

 spring. The seed retains its germinating property about a 

 year. 



, * SEEDLINGS. 



Almost every seed will produce a plant. If sown as soon 

 as ripe, say in September, the plants soon appear, looking 

 like small blades of grass : they should be rapidly grown in 

 heat. About the first of March, they will die down : rest 

 should be given them, by withholding water, until about the 

 first of June. The little bulblets, which will be about the 

 size of peas, should then be replanted, in boxes, about three- 

 quarters of an inch apart : water moderately. They will 

 grow all summer, dying down about October : give a rest 

 until January ; then repot, an inch apart, and grow until 

 March ; rest again until June ; plant in beds of finely pul-' 

 verized soil in the open air, and the larger proportion will 

 bloom in September. 



This rapid growth can be attained only where there are 

 greenhouse facilities. Ordinarily, the seed is sown in a box 

 or pot, set in a frame in the spring : the plants die down in 

 the autumn ; are wintered in the box in the cellar ; the next 

 spring, are planted in a prepared bed ; and, following the 

 same process, bloom the third year. 



