80 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
various unpleasant ways. Therefore, when there comes 
over the plantation a certain amount of yellowness, and 
the leaves look as if they would die if they could, and 
are only prevented by reason of the “ growing weather,” 
hesitate no longer, but lift them, and lay them in lots of 
a sort in a dry shed, with as much earth about them as 
adheres naturally, and in the course of a week afterwards 
clean them by removing leaves and roots, and store in sand. 
It is a delightful task to raise gladioli from seeds. To 
obtain the seeds is an easy matter, but artificial fertilisation 
should be practised to render the work complete. Sow the 
seed in spring in shallow pans, which should be placed in a 
moderate heat. When the grass appears, give air cautiously ; 
and when the season is sufficiently advanced, place them 
out of doors, and let them finish the first season’s growth 
in the seed-pans. Put these away untouched in a dry 
place for the winter. In the month of March following 
sift the soil and separate the corms, and plant these in pans, 
and treat them as described above for the flowering corms. 
At the end of May plant them out. 
