GLADIOLUS-RAISING FROM SEED. 



in spring, for although they usually survive our winters 

 their bloom is uncertain by such treatment, for an un- 

 usually cold snap, which may not destroy the bulbs, 

 will frequently destroy the flower germ already formed 

 therein, and great disappointment is experienced by 

 their failure to bloom. The growth of tuberose bulbs 

 for the northern aud foreign market is quite an industry 

 in the southeastern part of North Carolina, and our 

 growers produce very fine stock which never fails to 

 bloom ; but our amateurs who carelessly leave them out- 

 doors frequently complain to me of a failure to get 

 them to bloom. They should lift and dry them as the 

 commercial growers do, and keep dry and warm all 

 winter. On the other hand, I frequently see growing in 

 pots here the hardy tuberous-rooted Begonia Evansiana , 

 which would be much better off in the open ground. 

 In fact, all the new tuberous begonias will survive our 

 winters in dry soil with a good cover of leaf mould and 

 rough manure over the beds, and give much better 

 results than if lifted. 



Begonia scnipcrjlorens, which is not exactly tuberous 

 but has a fleshy base and root, will survive here in the 

 same manner. All the showy flowering alliums also do 

 well here, and add an attractive variety to cut-flowers. 

 Nothing makes a more showy bed than the various 

 scarlet anemones. They are seldom planted here. One 

 of the most pleasant memories of my boyhood was an 

 old garden in southern Maryland where large masses of 

 these surpassed in brilliant display the beds of early 

 tulips. While early tulips are generally unsatisfactory 

 here, the anemones never would be. By all means 

 start a bed of them, and they will increase in beauty 

 from year to year. Anemone fulgens is the variety 1 

 refer to. There are many others with large double 

 flowers, at large prices, but the fulgens is cheap and 

 makes a magnificent show. 



Calochortus, the mariposa lily of California, in many 

 varieties ought to be largely planted in the south, and 

 yet we seldom see them. They have a great range of 

 color and markings, and only need to be known to 

 become popular. 



In almost every garden here are old clumps of Euro- 

 pean iris, which give a wealth of bloom in early spring, 

 but few people in the south have ever seen the gorgeous 

 varieties of Iris hvvigata from Japan. Try a few of 



them this fall, and we feel sure you will want more. 

 The florists offer many named varieties, but large 

 clumps of mixed sorts can be had cheap and will give 

 great satisfaction. And then there are the lilies, all of 

 which do so well with us in a proper situation. They 

 need a cool exposure and some shade, a sandy soil, no 

 manure about their roots, but plenty of leaf mould, and 

 should be planted very deep in the ground, six to ten 

 inches. All of them should be planted in the fall except 

 the old white lily, Liliiim candiduiii . This variety is 

 dormant only for a while in summer, after blooming, 

 and then makes a rosette of green leaves which remain 

 all winter. When grown in this latitude, thislily should 

 only be transplanted in early July — but as grown at the 

 north the bulbs can be shipped in August or September, 

 If transplanted after the winter leaves are made, no 

 bloom need be expected the following year, though the 

 bulbs may survive such treatment. The florists now 

 have their autumn bulb catalogues out, and a small 



Outline of Common Gladiolus, natural size. 

 (See page 672.) 



expenditure will secure a wonderful display in our mild 

 climate all through late winter and spring. Therefore 

 we urge all to plant a few bulbs. Southron. 



GLADIOLUS-RAISING FROM SEED. 



A PLEASANT DIVERSION. 



HIRTY years ago mother began 

 growing the gladiolus. To the 

 varieties of the earlier period 

 were added about ten years 

 ago, Martha Washington, 

 Shakespeare, Napoleon III., 

 Sultana, Marie Dumortier, La Candeur, Golden 

 Scepter, Galatea, Felicien David, Eugene Scribe, 



Ceres and Etendard. This makes a grand collec- 

 tion and formed our nucleus for raising many fine 

 sorts from seed. We allowed about two pods on 

 each stalk to ripen seed, saved them carefully, and 

 sowed them in rows in the garden the following 

 spring. 



The young plants of the gladiolus look like blades of 

 grass, only there is a slight rib in the center. There is 



