THE GLADIOLUS. 



571 



the gravel, and so forth ; but these are simply excuses for their 

 want of success, for the Gladiolus, properly treated, can be grown 

 to perfection in this country. 



Exhibition. 



I believe that the subject of these remarks is generally 

 acknowledged to be pre-eminent upon the exhibition table during 

 the autumn months, on account of its grandeur and brilliancy of 

 colouring. 



Although its season of flowering is rather long, August 

 25 is about the date in the south of England when we can 

 generally cut the finest stand of blooms. The method usually 

 adopted for setting up the spikes, and which I now use, is one 

 which I invented and first used at one of the Society's meetings 

 in 1868. Various kinds of foliage have been called into requisi- 

 tion as a background, but there is no doubt but that the natural 

 foliage of the plant suits this flower better than any other, and 

 no other is so effective in throwing up the brilliancy of the 

 flowers. 



The best time to cut the spikes intended for exhibition is 

 about five o'clock in the morning ; at this time only can the flowers 

 be seen in the freshness of their beauty, the dew hanging on 

 them like pearls. 



We are obliged to cut upon the day previous to the show, and 

 after being cut they are taken to the cut-flower room and arranged 

 in water in the show-cases ready for exhibition. Despatched by 

 the night train they arrive quite fresh for the next day's show. 



When at Fontainebleau in 1874 I had a conversation with 

 M. Souchet, and also with M. Vilmorin, of Paris, upon what 

 they considered perfection. It seems that the French raisers 

 prefer the spike to be long, the flowers evenly disposed, and 

 standing quite independently of one another, so that you may 

 see between them. They consider our spikes heavy and lumpish, 

 theirs light and elegant. 



I shall now describe what I consider a perfect plant — one of 

 robust habit, strong constitution, and tall growth, the spike long, 

 and carrying not less than eight or ten blooms at one time, the 

 foliage broad, the flowers so disposed as to come naturally to the 

 fore, and to just touch one another, and so to completely hide 



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