Gladiolus Culture. 131 



Sydney, Australia. He was equally pleased, and remarked that 

 many of the ravines through which M. Souchet conducted us, in 

 the remoter parts of the forest, were remarkably like those inhabited 

 by tree-ferns near the coast, in Australia. 



In France the Gladiolus is cultivated much more abundantly than 

 with us a state of things which I trust may not long continue, as 

 nothing can be more worthy of general cultivation, or more calcu- 

 lated to improve the general aspect of our ornamental gardens. To 

 those intending to employ it, a few remarks on its capabilities may 

 be useful. 



Perhaps one of the best recommendations of this fine bulb is 

 that its flowers continue to open long after the spike is cut, and 

 bloom in a vase of water as freely as in the open garden. I have 

 never seen anything more beautiful or effective than large Sevres 

 vases filled with the spikes of the finer kinds in M. Souchet's 

 house. Many of his varieties grow five feet or more high j 

 when cutting them a yard or more of the spike is preserved, and no 

 arrangement is needed except to insert their bases in the mouth of 

 the vase, and allow their heads to spread widely forth, placing 

 a few branches of evergreens, or any verdure at hand, among 

 the stems, just to give them a little relief. There is no one kind of 

 flower that could make such a noble combination, and the effect 

 within the cool, thick- walled French house, on hot days, was of the 

 highest character. Then we may safely say that the Gladiolus is 

 the finest of all our flowers for indoor decoration in autumn, its tall 

 and noble spike entirely preventing it from being used to produce 

 the dumpling-like effects given by Dahlias and other popular flowers. 

 But its uses in the open air are even greater j nothing in the way 

 of a flowering plant will prove so good for varying and giving a 

 more graceful and bold character to the flower garden. One 

 reason probably why it is not oftener well employed with us, is 

 that it rises above the dwarf materials of which we are so fond. Of 

 course it may be combined with these with the best taste j but 

 there are also many other ways in which it may be used grace- 

 fully. 



K 2 



