114 BULBS AND TTTBEBOUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 



there will be no two alike ; that all will be showy, and 

 that some will be so grotesque as to cause us to tender 

 our sympathies to the afflicted parents, are not only 

 among the possibilities, but the probabilities of growing- 

 seedlings. By long growing of a given variety we find 

 its constitution is liable to become impaired, that many 

 sorts sicken and die. All varieties will soon run out 

 unless propagation from offsets is constantly kept up. 

 Seedlings have usually greater vitality for a number of 

 years than the sorts grown from offsets, and, unless a 

 certain variety of merit is to be perpetuated, it is de- 

 cidedly better to increase our stock from seed. For 

 mixtures furnished "the trade," we resort to this method 

 wholly. Flowering bulbs can be produced as quickly 

 from seed as from bulblets, with a certainty of greater 

 variety, and a chance of some remarkable forms. 



Selecting Gladiolus Seed. — While there is no 

 certainty that the seed saved and sown will produce 

 remarkable results, it is decidedly better to save seed 

 from the best and most vigorous forms. That is a prin- 

 ciple in seed-saving, and should be respected with the 

 Gladiolus. It is a good indication to strive for the best, 

 whatever may be the result. Bad habits in anything 

 should not be encouraged ; therefore, in selecting seeds, 

 take from the plants, with characters such as one would 

 like to see in the offspring, health, form and well-defined 

 colors, this is in the true line of improvement, whether 

 successful or not. 



The Seed Bed. — The ground should be worked 

 well and deep, whatever the character of the soil, and as 

 nearly level as convenient to avoid washing out, in case 

 of heavy rain. Prepare, in all respects, the same as for 

 any garden vegetable ; sow the seeds thickly in rows, 

 sufficiently far enough apart to work with the hoe ; 

 cover the seeds with fine soil, half an inch deep. Then 

 cover the whole bed with newly cut grass, fine hay, or 



