THE GLADIOLUS. 
543 
be adopted, that is, with all potted plant?, it is 
much the safest plan of preserving the roots. 
The reason of this seems to be attributable to 
the more perfect equilibrium in which the 
bulbs are maintained, when thus treated, than 
when the roots are exposed in any way to the 
vicissitudes of our variable climate; and in 
which" they are often liable to be subjected to 
alternations of moisture and drought. At the 
Cape, there is none of this ; the seasons are 
decided in their character, and the state of the 
plants exactly corresponds. The roots, there- 
fore, should be suffered to remain in the soil ; 
and this should be kept- as free from moisture 
as can possibly be done ; it is but a trifling 
consideration, where the roots are stored by, 
so that this condition is secured them, and 
they are at the same time preserved from 
frost. With all bulbous plants kept in this 
manner, it will sometimes happen that some of 
them will spring into growth before the due 
season arrives : whenever this is observed, it 
is then too late to check them, and there is no 
alternative but to encourage their growth by 
the cautious administration of the stimulants, 
heat and moisture, in conjunction with light. 
It is desirable, however, that this premature 
growth should be avoided, and that they 
should remain in this quiescent state until the 
early spring months. 
The period of excitement should commence 
when the days are lengthening, and the 
natural supply of light increasing ; they will 
then, as soon as they vegetate, be surrounded 
by circumstances favourable to their growth, 
which will, in consequence, be vigorous and 
satisfactory, and the bloom will be perfect, 
highly coloured, and fragrant. When this 
excitement is commenced, it should by no 
means be carried on too hastily; vegetable 
grow this an actof progressional development; 
at first feeble and scarcely apparent, but gra- 
dually gaining more and more strength, until 
maturity is at length attained : these periods, 
therefore, should be discriminated. The 
stimulants of vegetation, which are heat and 
moisture, must, during the period of infant 
growth, be given with a sparing hand, having 
a twofold view both of the stage of develop- 
ment, and of the supply of light. As the 
extension of the plant goes on, and the young 
growth gains strength, and approaches the 
period of maturity, the application of stimu- 
lants may then be carried to the fullest extent 
the constitution of the particular plant is 
enabled to bear. In most cases, the season 
at which this takes place will also bring with 
it an increase of light, a circumstance which is 
sufficient to justify the more liberal application 
of nourishment. 
The operation of potting should be per- 
formed just prior to the period of growth, the 
bulbs being, at that time, in the most favour- 
able condition to profit by the change. They 
should be carefully separated from the old 
soil ; and, the strongest bulbs being selected 
out, they should be repotted cither three, four, 
or more in a pot of the size known as thirty- 
twos, a matter which must be determined by 
the size the kind is known usually to attain. 
If smaller sized pots are preferred, a propor- 
tionately less number of bulbs must be planted 
in them. The bulbs should be placed as near 
the edge of the pots as may bo convenient; for 
this will allow of a greater space for their 
roots to grow in ; and they should be placed 
so as to be covered about an inch with the 
soil : this latter should be open and porous, 
rather inclining to sandy than otherwise. 
A very suitable compost would consist of two 
parts sandy loam, and one part well reduced 
(decayed) leaf-mould, to which a small 
portion of very coarse sand or grit may be 
superadded; the soil should not be sifted, but 
used with every particle of turfy matter that 
can be retained. The pots should be well 
drained with a large piece of a broken pot 
placed directly over the hole in the bottom, 
with the concave side downwards ; and on 
this an inch or two of broken crocks, brick, 
or any similar material ; this should be covered 
with a handful or two of rough turfy soil, or 
moss, sufficient to prevent the soil from inter- 
mixing with the crocks ; it will also be of use, 
for the purpose of facilitating the drainage, 
to throw in amongst the soil, at the time of 
potting, a quantity of charcoal broken to the 
size of nuts. Depth rather than width is re- 
quired in the form and construction of the 
pots, as bulbous plants almost invariably 
have a tendency to strike their growing roots 
downwards. The soil should be in a medium 
state of dampness, so that it will not con- 
solidate by reasonable pressure ; and in that 
case, with soil in this state, no water should 
be given at the time of pottin<r, unless 
the bulbs are actually in a growing state ; it 
they have not commenced growing, they will 
abstract slowly a sufficient quantity of moisture 
from the soil to excite them into growth, and 
then it may be supplied, but only in small 
quantities until they have advanced to an 
active growing state. 
Provided the bulbs remain inactive, that is, 
in a state of rest, without evincing signs of 
growth during the winter, this potting may 
take place early in February, or somewhat 
earlier or later, according to the backwardness 
or forwardness of the season, or other circum- 
stances. No better place can be selected for 
them than a shelf near the glass in a green- 
house. They will succeed well enough, and 
come forward with the advance of the season, 
j in a frame, if means are taken to keep it a 
