GLADIOLUS — GLOXINIA 



375 



This last planting will afford fine late flowers. The plants should be 

 supported by inconspicuous stakes. 



The successive plantings may be in the same bed among those set 

 earlier, or they may be grouped in unoccupied nooks, or portions of 

 the border. The plants may stand as close as 6 inches from each 

 other. The earlier planting may be a foot apart to admit of later 

 settings between. 



Late in the fall, after frosts and before freezing, the corms are to 

 be dug, cleaned, and dried in the sun and air for a few hours and then 

 stored away in boxes about 2| inches deep in a cool, dark, and dry 

 place. The tops should be left on, at least till completely shriveled. 



The varieties are perpetuated and multiplied by the little corms 

 that appear about the base of the large new corm which is formed each 

 year. These small corms may be taken off in the spring and sown 

 thickly in drills. Many of them will make flowering plants by the 

 second season. They are treated like the large corms, in the fall. 



Gladioli are easily grown from seed also, but this method cannot be 

 depended on to perpetuate desirable varieties, which can be repro- 

 duced only by the cormels. Some of the best flowers may be cross- 

 polHnated, or allowed to form sasd in the usual manner ; the seed 

 sown thickly in drills, and shaded till the plantlets appear, then care- 

 fully' cultivated, will afford a crop of small corms in the fall. These 

 maybe stored for the winter, like the other young corms, and, hke them, 

 many will flower the second season, affording a great variety and quite 

 likely some new and striking kinds. Those that do not flower should 

 be reserved for further trial. They often prove finer than those first 

 to flower. 



Early-flowering varieties of gladioli may be forced for late winter or 

 spring bloom. 



For bouquets, cut the spike when the lower flowers open ; keep in 

 fresh water, cut off the end of the stem frequently, and the other 

 flowers will expand. 



Gloxinia. — Choice greenhouse tuberous-rooted, spring and summer- 

 blooming perennials, sometimes seen in window-gardens, but really 

 not adapted to them, although some skillful house-gardeners grow them 

 successfully. 



