262 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



my intention to avoid as far as possible going over the same 

 ground again, and to confine my remarks to what I consider to 

 be common and erroneous ideas and practices with respect to 

 gladiolus cultivation. 



And first as to the question of soil. Nearly all writers on 

 the subject recommend a light sandy soil as being the most suit- 

 able ; in fact, some go so far as to make this an essential, and 

 condemn heavy loams as being totally unfitted for the purpose. 

 On what grounds they speak so decidedly I have never yet been 

 able to ascertain, but I assume that, as Holland is a great centre 

 of bulb-growing, and as the soil there is mostly of a light and 

 sandy nature, the writers in question take it naturally for 

 granted that everything of the nature of a bulb or corm requires 

 a light, sandy, humus soil for its proper development, without 

 ever putting the matter to the test. I have grown gladioli in all 

 kinds of soils and mixtures, and after careful consideration have 

 come to the conclusion that the best results are obtained on a 

 somewhat heavy yellow loam of an adhesive nature, without any 

 admixture of sand — a soil which I consider, if anything, even of 

 too close a texture to grow briar roses in. On such a soil we 

 are able year after year to keep up a vigorous and healthy stock 

 of gladioli, and no matter whether the seasons be hot or cold, 

 dry or wet, we always have a good measure of success in pro- 

 ducing flowers and corms. Perhaps I ought to have stated 

 earlier that my remarks have reference to the fine hybrids of 

 the gandavensis section, and I think it may be taken for granted 

 that whatever suits these, as regards soil and general conditions, 

 will also suit the more recent purpurco-aiiratus hybrids and 

 Saundersi varieties, and these three sections it will, I think, be 

 admitted contain all the most beautiful late-blooming gladioli 

 worth cultivating for the beauty of their flowers. The actual 

 species from which they have been obtained are poor things in 

 comparison with the fine hybrids produced from them by careful 

 hybridisation. 



In recommending a somewhat heavy loam for choice I know 

 I shall be told that splendid flowers of gladioli are produced in 

 soils of a light, sandy, and even gravelly nature. I quite admit 

 the fact, and I believe that as regards the mere production of 

 fine flowers it may be done in almost any kind of soil whatever ; 

 but I should only consider a cultivator really successful when, in 



