THE GLADIOLUS. 



385 



promote insect life. He thought the Gladiolus disease began in 

 some way at the root first of all by a kind of nematoid worm, 

 and gradually worked itself into the corms. 



Mr. D'ombkain, in reference to the danger of cutting the 

 bulbs in two, said there was no more danger attached to the ope- 

 ration than there was in cutting up Potatoes before planting. 



The Rev. W. Wilks, referring to Mr. Roupell's reason for 

 the disease being that the bulbs were grown in old gardens or 

 manured soil, said that twenty-five years ago he grew Gladioli, 

 and, as he thought, very well. They were all grown in an old 

 garden, which had grown other crops for centuries previous, and 

 had also been well manured. Last year, being partly convinced 

 by Mr. Kelway's lecture, he bought a few of the commonest sorts, 

 and planted them in a piece of land which had within a year or 

 so been a field, and had only been manured once since turned 

 up for cultivation. He planted thirty- six bulbs of Brenchley- 

 ensis in this new, fresh soil, and out of the whole there were only 

 four at that time which had not succumbed to the disease. He 

 could not, therefore, think that old or new soil had anything 

 whatever to do with producing the disease. He had examined 

 the corms, and in the centre he discovered a black mark, from 

 which he concluded that the disease was not acquired, but pecu- 

 liarly inherent to Gladioli. 



Mr. W. Maeshall suggested that the cause of failure this 

 year was due to the great amount of wet. 



Mr. D'ombeain, in reference to Mr. Marshall's remark, said 

 he recollected sustaining his greatest loss during one very dry 

 season. 



HARDY WATER AND BOG PLANTS. 



By Mr. Geokge Paul, F.R.H.S. 



[Eead September 8, 1891.] 



My paper was to have been on the subject of Hardy Bog Plants, 

 in the culture of which I have had some experience. The 

 Secretary has, I find, coupled them with Water Plants, of 

 which I know but little. My remarks, therefore, on these last 

 must be confined to giving my limited experience with them 



