MAY. 



63 



on the floor of a late Peach-house, where they vegetated freely. In the 

 beginning of summer the boxes were placed in the open air, and the young- 

 plants kept free from weeds, and not neglected for water. In the autumn, 

 when the leaves began to change colour, water was withheld, and the boxes 

 placed in a situation where no frost could reach them. In February this year 

 the boxes were examined, and some of the young bulbs of the Cardinalis and 

 other early-flowering sections were beginning to grow. I had them, there- 

 fore, all replanted in fresh soil and thinner in the boxes than last year, and I 

 expect some of the bulbs will be large enough to flower next year. 



I find 1 have between one and two thousand of young bulbs of the different 

 hinds, and many of them larger than peas. 



The young seedlings grow well in the boxes with the following soil — viz., 

 one-half sandy loam and peat. I intend next spring to plant out all my 

 seedling Gladiolus in the Rhododendron-clumps, as both the soil and situation 

 suit this flower to perfection. The great expense of procuring quantities of 

 the best varieties of this showy flower for massing in clumps has hitherto 

 prevented its being used generally. By raising quantities of seedlings every 

 year this want will be supplied, and an effect be produced in pleasure grounds 

 in the autumn months with Gladioluses, Hollyhocks, and Phloxes that has 

 never yet been effected nor even imagined. 



William Tillery. 



THE GLADIOLUS. 

 The remarks that your correspondent " Q,uo" makes on the disease and 

 * culture of the Gladiolus, in the Number of the Florist and Pomologist 

 for March, page 25, should, I think, be interesting to those who grow them, 

 whether for exhibition or decorative purposes. Your correspondent does not 

 say whether the rot attacked the bulb or the spike of flowers, nor what treat- 

 ment they that he saw diseased were subject to. It might be strong 

 stimulants were the cause of the sudden check when coming into flower. The 

 severity of the spring could hardly be the cause, when they did well up to 

 tbe time of flowering. Certainly stiff, ill-drained soils are not suitable for 

 them. As far as I can know, I have not heard of any such disease about the 

 county Dublin as yet. As the Gladiolus is becoming such a general favourite 

 for autumn decoration in the flower garden, which nothing out of doors can 

 surpass at the season they are in flower, it would be a great boon to the public 

 if those who cultivate them successfully would give a few hints of their mode 

 of culture, as well in Ireland as in England. I am sure such would be 

 acceptable to the many Avho are growing them, as well as those who are 

 intending to begin. As to potting them in February and planting out in 

 April, I do not consider necessary at all — at least in my idea. I generally 

 prepare my bed for their reception early in January, with the following 

 compost — one-half the top of an old pasture, and one-half leaf mould and 

 rotten dung in equal parts, well mixed together. The bed is filled-in to the 

 depth of 18 inches, and left to settle down for about a fortnight. It is then 

 raked off level and the bulbs planted. The beds are 4 feet wide, and I put 

 three lines in the bed, and 12 inches from bulb to bulb. I place sea sand 

 under, and over, and around each bulb ; then have them covered with the same 

 material as the bed to the depth of 2 inches, which I consider is better than 

 to cover them deeper. I generally plant them about the 21st of Januarv, 

 afterwards protecting them from frost and heavy rains; and I find a <n- e "at 



