>4t 
THE GLADIOLUS. 
little warmer than a cold frame, by covering 
at night to exclude cold, and regulating the 
opening and shutting of the glass sashes, so 
as to take advantage of, and husband the 
heal of the sun, communicated in the day- 
time. Such a frame needs, however, con- 
siderable precaution to render it free from the 
access of damp to the interior, which, if 
confined, would destroy the hulbs when not in 
a growing state, and, at any rate, would 
produce considerable injury. Perhaps no 
better way could be adopted of rendering such 
a frame impervious to damps from below, (the 
principal source whence the evil arises,) than 
that of covering the floor on which the frame 
rests, with a good coating of the asphalte 
now so much used for walks, pavement, 
flooring, &c. ; for if communication with the 
damp soil below can, by this means, be cut 
oflP, the dampness of the atmosphere can be 
excluded and prevented from acting injuri- 
ously by a proper attention to ventilation and 
the regulation of the glass sashes. If their 
growth should take place during the winter 
months, either the green-house, or a situation 
equally favoured with respect to heat and 
light, would be essential to the proper develop- 
ment of their foliage and blossoms. 
The subsequent treatment, from the time of 
potting to the period of blooming, is chiefly of 
a routine nature, the administration of water 
being the principal operation requiring to be 
attended to. While in bloom, the plants may 
either be placed in the green-house, or in a 
light and airy sitting-room, during the period 
they continue in beauty. After the bloom is 
past, the growth of the leaves should be 
encouraged as far as possible until they are 
fully matured, during which period they ought 
to be very fully exposed to the influence of 
light ; and when the full growth is attained, 
water must then be very gradually withheld, 
until they are again brought to a state of rest. 
TREATMENT OF THE HARDY GLADIOLI. 
The hardy kinds require the same general 
features of treatment which have been re- 
ferred to in connexion with the half-hardy 
kinds, but adapted to the open ground ; with 
this difference, that it is sometimes found 
necessary to take up the roots when not in a 
growing state, as a matter of convenience. 
This is, however, by no means to be recom- 
mended ; for, in all cases where the situation 
and circumstances are at all adapted to their 
growth, they are far better left in the ground 
undisturbed for at least three or four seasons. 
These Gladioli produce a most beautiful 
display, either when planted in masses, or in 
single patches ; and they are likewise accom- 
modating in their nature, inasmuch as that 
several kinds at least do not refuse to crow 
in whatever soil may happen to exist, pro- 
vided the broad and universal essentials of 
thorough drainage, pulverization, &C. &c, an; 
secured to them. Perfect success, however, 
in the display of the flower garden, involves 
that a preparation be made tor each kind of 
plant introduced to it ; and when they are 
grown together in beds or masses, this can 
readily be done without inconvenience. In 
preparing a bed for Gladioli, our plan would 
be to remove the natural soil to the depth of 
eighteen inches ; six inches of this space 
would be filled in with broken bricks, stones, 
or other materials suitable for securing perfect, 
Gladiolus Gandivensis. 
ana permanent drainage; on this should be 
laid a stratum of turfy, loamy soil, which may 
be roughly chopped up, and laid on to about 
the depth of three or four inches ; the use of 
this would be to serve as a reservoir to the 
plants in dry weather, during the summer, 
and to preserve them against injury from the 
want of sufficient nourishment, whenever a 
rapid change in the temperature might other- 
wise have the effect of scorching the plants 
before their necessities were observed ; above 
this turf would be placed from a foot to 
fifteen inches of a prepared compost, which 
would be continued above the general level of 
the surrounding ground, for two reasons : 
first, to secure it against being too abundantly 
supplied with water, which would, probably, 
sometimes be the case, if the surface were 
below the ordinary level ; and secondly, to 
provide a sufficient height for its subsiding a 
little, which it would doubtless do to a greater 
or less extent. The compost used would 
consist of one part of the original soil, if of 
tolerably good quality; one part, sandy loam; 
