-16 
THE GLADIOLUS. 
drift sand, which would form a capital, though 
rather expensive, mixture for them ; or, if the 
original garden soil is of tolerably good 
quality, a portion, from one-third to one-half 
of this, maybe used, mixed with a proportion 
of compost similar to the above. The bed 
will then be raised three or four inches above 
the ordinary level ; the surface should be 
regulated, making it somewhat highest in the 
centre, and rounding off to each side. The 
rows should then be marked out, as for 
planting out those raised in pots ; and drills 
should be drawn with a hoe, about four 
inches deep, in -which to deposit the bulbs. 
The operation of planting consists in placing 
the bulbs at the regular and proper distance 
apart in these drills, and then covering them 
over with the soil, and rendering the surface 
even, and somewhat rounded, as it was before 
the drills were formed. 
This must be done in mild, open weather, at 
an early period of the spring, say about the 
beginning or middle of March ; a little latitude 
may, however, be taken as to the period of 
planting, so that it is all done under favourable 
circumstances of weather, and when the 
ground is dry and in good condition, though 
it will be advisable not to delay much later 
than the time mentioned, if it can be avoided. 
In any case, the bed must be protected from 
any frosts that may be severe enough to 
penetrate to the bulb or plant. Slight frosts, 
affecting only the surface, will not do any 
injury to the roots ; and it is not often, at that 
period of the year, that we are visited with 
frosts severe enough to be likely to penetrate 
Gladiolus namaquensis. 
into the earth so deep as the roots. The 
readiest means of affording protection will be 
by means of hooped sticks bent over the beds, 
on which mats may be stretched at night, and 
removed during the day, in fine weather. 
More elegant coverings may be made of light 
frame work, fitted with some of the asphalted 
felts now in use, or even with painted, oiled, 
or tarred canvass, all of which are neater and 
less littery than mats, and are equally, or even 
more, effectual, from their greater efficacy in 
throwing off heavy rains. 
When the beds of Gladiolus become esta- 
blished, there is little fear of their enduring the 
winter, pz^ovided the beds are well drained, 
and the surface is covered over with some dry 
repellant material, of which none is better 
than sawdust. It must, however, be removed 
when its office is fulfilled, and not incorporated 
amongst the soil. Beds of Gladiolus flower 
much more vigorously and beautifully if they 
are allowed to remain undisturbed for years ; 
and, when so left, if any of the roots should 
push up through the surface of the soil, or 
become uncovered, a portion of new soil should 
be added on the surface of the bed. When it 
becomes necessary, for the sake of rearranging 
and regulating the whole, to remove the plants 
from the beds, they should not be too much 
divided at the time of replanting ; a little 
patch of roots always blooms better than a 
single bulb, and, besides, from the greater 
number of flowers in proximity with each 
other, a better effect is produced. 
The month of March is here recommended 
for planting out new beds of these plants, 
because they are not strictly hardy, and at 
that period there is little risk of injury from 
frost. If, however, some of the modes of 
protecting the beds already alluded to were 
employed, there would be little risk in planting 
during the autumn, say October, and the 
result will probably be a much earlier 
bloom. 
THE RAISING OF NEW VARIETIES. 
In the Gladiolus there are ample materials 
for the florist to work on, and characters 
which afford every promise of containing the 
embryo of great achievements. A vigour of 
constitution and growth, perhaps, scarcely 
equalled among plants of this class, mark it 
out as peculiarly adapted to be wrought upon ; 
there are, too, several distinct habits of growth, 
and different forms of the flowers ; and there 
are colours in great variety and profusion ; 
and, moreover, there is in some a delicious 
and powerful fragrance. With such materials 
as these the florist will surely bring into 
existence a race worthy of his estimation, 
equally as much so as any of those upon 
which his care and attention is now lavished. 
The florists of the continent have already 
taken up the task, and produced some fine 
hybrid varieties ; and they are, doubtless, now 
