GLADIOLUS 



FLAG OBDEB 



GLADIOLUS 951 



deep. Some excellent growers like the 

 Rev. H. D'ombrain prepare the corms by 

 peeling off the outer coat and cutting 

 each one in two with a sharp knife, each 

 portion containing an ' eye ' or bud. 

 Some powdered charcoal or charred 

 vegetable refuse is placed round the cut 

 corms, which are planted about 5 in. 

 apart or more according to the space at 

 disposal, but it is a matter of small 

 importance, as the roots do not spread 

 but go straight down into the soil. Some 

 growers object to cutting the corms, fear- 

 ing an attack of disease, but there is no 

 more danger in the process than in 

 cutting up Potatoes at planting time. 



After the corms have been covered 

 and beds levelled over they will require 

 little attention beyond weeding untU the 

 flower stems appear about July and 

 August. Stakes must then be used, but 

 should not reach higher than the lowest 

 flower, and one strong tie will be sufficient 

 to prevent the flower spikes from being 

 blown about by the wind. If the blooms 

 are required for exhibition, it is wiser to 

 stake each spike separately. Should the 

 summer be very hot and dry, a good 

 mulching of decayed maniire and copious 

 waterings will benefit the plants im- 

 mensely. 



Hybridising. — If seeds are not 

 required it is better for the constitution 

 and vigour of the corms that the flower 

 spikes should be cut off as soon as they 

 begin to wither. When it is intended to 

 raise hybrids, however, the flowers must 

 be left on, and only those of the finest 

 form, colour, and substance selected for 

 fertilising purposes. The article on hy- 

 bridising at p. 37 will explain the process 

 of conveying the pollen from the stamens 

 to the stigma of the pistil. Hot bright 

 sunny days when the air is dry should be 

 chosen for fertilising the flowers, and an 

 horn: or two before mid-day is the most 

 favourable time according to Mr. K,elway. 

 The fertilised flowers should be marked 

 in some way with a piece of coloured 

 string or a label, but it is scarcely worth 

 whiLe recording the parentage of Gladiolus 

 hybrids except when pure species are 

 employed. 



Seed-sowing. — The seed should be 

 gathered when fully ripe and kept in a 

 dry airy place until the first week in 

 April. It may then be sown in a piece 

 of ground which has been prepared in 

 the autumn and brought into good tUth. 



The surface should be raked over and 

 rendered as fine as possible. The seeds 

 are sown in shallow driUs about i in. 

 deep, and 6 in. apart, and covered with a 

 njjixture of fine sifted soil and sand. The 

 seed beds are then pressed down evenly 

 and firmly, and kept free from weeds 

 with an occasional watering. The seed- 

 lings come through the sofl like Barley 

 and about September may be lifted and 

 stored until planting time in spring. 



Harvesting. ■ — The disappearance of 

 the flowers and the withering of the 

 leaves are signs of maturity and a hint 

 that the corms may be lifted. About the 

 end of October or beginning of November 

 is the best time to take them up. They 

 may be stored in a dry airy place firee 

 from frost until the planting time in 

 March. The young corms or ' spawn ' 

 formed at the base of the adult corms 

 may be detached and stored in the same 

 way, and sown like seeds in drills in 

 April, but they require to be covered with 

 about 2 in. of soil. In September, before 

 the foliage has withered, they may be 

 lifted and cleansed, and again stored 

 untU the following season. During the 

 first season of growth all flower spikes 

 shoxdd be pinched off and not allowed to 

 develop so that the corms may become 

 stronger. 



G. Lemoinei. — This beautiful race of 

 Gladiolus was produced by M. Lemoine 

 of Nancy, Prance, by fertilising flowers 

 of (?. purpv/reo-auratus with pollen fi:om 

 the most beautiful forms of gandavensis. 

 As the latter has the blood of four or five 

 species in its veins, it follows that the 

 Lemoinei hybrids contain the blood of at 

 least one more species. The first flower 

 appeared in 1877, but the plants were not 

 put into commerce until 1880. During 

 the past twenty years a large number of 

 choice varieties have been developed not 

 only by M. Lemoine but by Messrs. Kelway 

 and other growers in England and on the 

 Continent, and there is now a very large 

 and varied assortment in gardens. The 

 Lemoinei hybrids are distinguished by a 

 large beautiful golden-yeUow blotch with 

 borders of purple, scarlet, maroon &c. on 

 the lower segments, which render them 

 very attractive. There are many shades 

 of colour, including carmine, rosy-purple, 

 sulphur, salmon, yellow, creamy-white, 

 blood-red &c., more or less beautifully 

 blended. The first varieties raised were 



