116 BTJLBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 



may be ; if it does not produce offsets when it first 

 flowers, it never will, and, with very rare exceptions, it is 

 thrown among the mixtures. Why one variety increases 

 so fast, and another not at all, is another of the 

 mysteries that attends the cultivation of the Gladiolus. 

 We have taken from a single corm of Brenchleyensis, not 

 half an inch in diameter when planted, more than two 

 hundred little corms, while we should consider ourselves 

 fortunate in getting a dozen from many of the other 

 varieties. Most of the yellows increase with equal rapid- 

 ity. This will, in a measure, account for the differences 

 in price of many old-established varieties. Noticeably 

 among these is Princess Mary of Cambridge, a truly 

 splendid flower, which does not increase with us by off- 

 sets, and its increase in Europe is but slow. La 

 Candeur increases rapidly with us and but slowly in 

 France. We find, in this country, that its increase in 

 some sections is far more rapid than in others. 



The little corms, or sets, may be sown as early in 

 the spring as the soil can be put in suitable condition. 

 Prepare the ground the same as for peas, sow in the 

 drills quite thickly, say one hundred to the foot of drill ; 

 cover with half an inch of fine soil, work in the same 

 manner as recommended for the seed bed, only mulching 

 is unnecessary. Take up as soon as the leaves begin to 

 wither, which is usually about the middle of September, 

 store in the same manner as the young seedlings. The 

 bulbs from the offsets will be somewhat larger than 

 those from seed, but no greater proportion of them will 

 flower the second year. 



General Cultivation of the Gladiolus. — For early 

 flowers plant the corms as soon as the ground is in condi- 

 tion for planting, no matter how early ; even though the 

 surface may freeze slightly after planting, it will not 

 injure the corms in the least. It is the better plan to 

 reserve the larger and stronger corms for late flowering, 



