572 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the stem. The individual blooms should be four to five inches 

 across, the petals broad, and of good substance and endurance, 

 not inclined to curl at the edges ; the ground-colour pure, but if 

 containing two or more tints the flakes should be of a deeper 

 shade, and the lines in the centre of the petals should be clearly 

 defined. 



Pot Culture. 



The Gandavensis Gladioli are not good subjects for culture 

 in pots. But if it be desired to have them late for decorating the 

 conservatory, they may be grown with tolerably good effect. The 

 corms should be potted singly, in 6-inch pots, about the end of 

 May, using a rich compost of good yellow loam, old hot-bed 

 manure, and silver sand. They should then be plunged in a bed 

 of very rich soil, placing the rims of the pots about two inches 

 beneath the surface. In dry weather they will require to be 

 kept tolerably moist with frequent waterings. As soon as frost 

 commences the pots should be lifted and placed in a cold green- 

 house or vinery, and brought into the conservatory as soon as 

 the first buds begin to open. 



Field Culture. 



I have proved that the Gladiolus can be grown satisfactorily 

 in the open fields, by horse cultivation, in almost any soil or 

 situation. I grow them at Langport to the extent of twenty-five 

 acres. The land is double-ploughed or sub-soiled twelve inches 

 deep, in September or October, dry weather being chosen (it should 

 never be done when the ground is in a wet state), and about 

 100 tons of manure per acre are then carted out upon it. I am 

 not particular as to the kind of manure, but buy all I can in the 

 neighbourhood — horse, cow, or pig manure are all equally good 

 for the purpose. This is spread over the newly ploughed land 

 and thoroughly worked in with heavy harrows, so as to mix it well 

 with the soil. The latter is allowed to remain in this state until 

 March, or until the land is in a fit state for horses to work it ; it 

 is then again harrowed and made as fine as possible, and struck 

 out into drills fifteen inches apart and three inches deep, with a 

 turn-furrow plough. 



"When the land is thus made ready for planting the latter is 

 begun, if the weather be dry and fine : this date is, upon the 

 average, March 10. I plant the corms about six inches apart in 



