GLADIOLI. 



261 



where they arrived after their long ocean and land journey as 

 fresh as if they had only travelled a few miles. 



As regards the varieties or "strains" best adapted for forcing, 

 that known as the Berlin is unquestionably the best for early 

 work. The Dutch and Hamburg ones are good for late forcing, 

 but my experience is that they do not approach the Berlin strain 

 for forcing before Christmas. These three varieties are said to 

 be seedlings, or possibly " sports," from the common or wild lily 

 of the valley, on which they are immense improvements. No 

 amount of cultivation would ever transform the wild plant into* 

 a rival of either the Hamburg, the Berlin, or the Dutch forms. 

 The difference between the two last-named is plainly seen in the 

 illustrations of the " Gardeners' Chronicle " of March 25, 1876. 

 (See figs. 18, 19.) The Dutch variety is of more spindly growth 

 than the Berlin, and has, moreover, a weak and drawn appearance. 



In conclusion let me say one word on the subject of retarding.. 

 Dr. Lardner once pooh-poohed the idea of a steam ship ever- 

 crossing the Atlantic, and the idea of retarding lily of the valley 

 crowns may appear jusl as absurd to the casual observer. That 

 it is now done, however, both extensively and successfully, is too 

 well known for me to emphasise. The movement, however, is 

 still in quite its infancy and cannot become general for some time 

 yet, so that any lengthened consideration of this phase may 

 safely be reserved for a future paper. 



GLADIOLI. 

 By Mr. J. Burrell, F.R.H.S. 

 [Bead September 8, 1896.] 



Within a very short period of time the subject of the present 

 paper has already had three lectures delivered in this hall, on its 

 history and cultivation, by three eminent raisers and cultivators 

 of the flower, so that it might well be asked what more can be 

 said on the subject by a less experienced grower, like myself,, 

 when such veterans as the Rev. H. Honywood D'ombrain and 

 Mr. Kelway, and a clever hybridist like Monsieur Lemoine, of 

 Nancy, have so ably and fully treated the subject. It is therefore 



