138 CUT FLO WEES. 



ties ; — Albatross, Albion, Bernard de Jussieu, Imperatrice 

 Eugenie, Leviathan, Lord Howard, Mont Blanc, Mrs. Derry, 

 Mrs. Laxton, Sir Percy Herbert, Reine Blanche, and Urania. 

 The Gladiolus is not so difficult to grow as many other florist's 

 flowers, but success will not be attained without considerable 

 skill and trouble. The ground ought to be trenched in the 

 autumn, giving at the same time a dressing of well-made 

 manure. The bulbs are best planted late in March or early 

 in April. The beds should be formed of four rows about 

 15 inches apai-t, and one foot between the bulbs, set three 

 inches deep. The plants should be carefully staked as they 

 grow, and a good mulching of manure given in dry weather. 

 Plenty of water should be s\ipplied to the roots, and also liquid 

 manure as soon as the flower-buds begin to swell. As they 

 expand they must be shaded to procure first-rate spikes. The 

 most effective way to do this is to fix an oblong box with a 

 glass front to a stout stake, the box being of sufficient length 

 to contain the whole of the spike. As the lower blooms 

 expand the glass may be shaded with whitewash, always giving 

 the unexpanded blooms the full sun. In order to bring late 

 spikes forward for a show, they should be cut and placed in 

 bottles of warm water set in a hothouse. Those that are too 

 early may be cut, and kept in a cool shaded place to retard 

 them. When the flowers incline backwards, they should be 

 tied to the front until they are expanded, when they will remain 

 in that position. In arranging a stand, the spikes should be 

 set up with their tops slightly bent back and some of the 

 foliage put around them, which greatly improves their appear- 

 ance. The points of merit are : (L) Length of the spike; (2.) 

 size and number of expanded flowers; (3.) richness of the 

 colour and distinctness of the marking; and (4.) texture of 

 the petals, the edges of which should be slightly reflexed to 

 show the interior of the flower. 



GEEENHOUSE FLOWEES. 

 A beautiful and interesting display is produced by a stand 

 of various kinds of greenhouse flowers, tastefully set up in 

 bunches, interspersed with a few sprays of graceful foliage. 



