574 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



up from the ground, be spread in some airy shed, or in the open 

 air when fine, and thoroughly dried off before being stored away. 



Before closing my remarks I shall give the names of twelve of 

 the best English-raised sorts ; the colours and descriptions are 

 set forth in the published catalogues. Several of these will be 

 found in my exhibits here to-day : — Appianus, Caliphon, Duchess 

 of Edinburgh, Lady Carrington, Lassia, Marcianus, Mrs. Dobree, 

 Mrs. J. Eyton, Kev. H. D'Ombrain, Prince Henry, Shirley 

 Hibberd, Sir Trevor Lawrence. 



And now, Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen, it is time 

 that my remarks came to an end, and I can only hope that what 

 I have said may induce many more amateurs to take up the 

 cultivation of these plants as a speciality, and if they succeed in 

 growing and exhibiting varieties of extra quality, they will, I 

 feel sure, be amply rewarded for the slight trouble it has cost 

 them ; for, although difficulties and disappointments will occur in 

 the culture of every flower, yet by patience and perseverance 

 these defects can be overcome, and will prove nothing in 

 comparison with the pleasure afforded to all ardent admirers of 

 flowers. 



ON THE OEIGIN OF GLADIOLUS GANDAVENSIS. 



A question having been raised as to the origin and parentage 

 of G. gandavensis, it may be well to reprint the two following 

 extracts : — 



Flore des Serves et des Jardins de VEurope, redigee par 

 Louis van Houtte, mars 1846, 3 e liv. pi. 1. " Gladiolus gan- 

 davensis. — . . . L'histoire d'une telle merveille ne laisse pas, en 

 presence d'une telle splendeur, que d'etre curieuse a connaitre. 

 Cette plante est nee dans les jardins de Monseigneur le due 

 d'Aremberg, jardins si renommes en Europe pour les richesses 

 vegetales qu'ils renferment, d'une fecondation hybride operee entre 

 le Gladiolus cardinalis et natalensis (psittacinus) , et chose 

 remarquable, elle depasse de beaucoup ses parens en hauteur. 

 M. van Houtte . . . n'eut pas piutot connaissance de ce gla'ieul, 

 que le jugeant 



. . . multo dignandus honore (Horace), 

 qu'enthousiaste de tout ce qui est vraiment beau en fait deplantes, 

 . . . amor urget habendi (Virgil), 



