561 JOUEXAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



flowers inferior in colour, size, and substance, and the bulbs are 

 smaller ; the third or fourth year they are nearly lost ; whereas 

 in the most varied situations in our soil these hardy hybrid 

 Gladioli have always succeeded equally well, let the season have 

 been dry or wet, hot or cold. The fine sorts of Gandavensis may 

 be preferred by some, but to every true lover of the Gladioli 

 whom an unfavourable soil or climate forbids to grow them I 

 shall say, try the hardy Gladioli, and they, at least, will not 

 disappoint you. 



THE GLADIOLUS. 

 By Mr. J. Kelway, F.E.H.S. 

 [Read September 9, 1890.] 



Mil. Chaieman, Ladies, and Gentlemen, — You have paid me a 

 great compliment in asking me, through your secretary, Mr. 

 Wilks, to tell you, and through you the world at large, what I 

 know concerning the propagation and cultivation of the Gladiolus. 



In attempting to comply with his request, which I do with 

 the greatest pleasure, I shall confine my remarks solely to that 

 portion of the genus commonly known as Gandavensis. 



I have cultivated the Gladiolus for sixty years, from the time 

 that G. jjsittacinus was first introduced into this country. I have 

 had great success, and some failures. I have grown a large 

 number of the species that have been introduced into this 

 country and nearly all the hybrids that have been put into com- 

 merce. All are of great beauty and very interesting to lovers of 

 flowers ; but I came to the conclusion many years ago that, as a 

 decorative plant, none could compare for grandeur, grace, and 

 beauty with the Gandavensis hybrids. This was what induced 

 me to take it in hand as I have done. In no garden, however 

 small, can they be out of place, and few subjects are better 

 adapted for arrangement in vases in the house, on the exhibition 

 table, or for general decoration. It is also the most enduring 

 flower we have in general use, for a spike cut when a few pips 

 only are open and placed in water will last for at least a fort- 

 night. You all know the Gladiolus of which I speak, the one 

 most generally grown far and wide throughout the British Isles, 



