HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 
263 
latter beiDg the best known. Among the species worthy of 
note are G. blandus, white, red and yellow, June, 2ft. ; G. 
byzantinus, red to purple, June, 2ft. ; G. cardinalis, scarlet, 
July, 3ft.; G. .communis, rose, white and purple, July, 2ft.; 
G. Saundersi) crimson, pink and white, autumn, 2ft. ; and 
G. segetum, pinkish-rose, July, 2ft. There are many others, 
the names of which will be found in trade lists. The hybrid 
forms include Brenchleyensis, flowers brilliant scarlet, appear- 
ing in August and onwards ; Childsi, hybrids between ganda- 
vensis and Saundersi, flowers large and variously coloured, 
growth vigorous and spikes long and branching; Colvilleii, a 
hybrid between G. cardinalis and G. tristis, flowers crimson- 
purple and white, or white only as in the variety, The Bride, 
flowering in early summer ; gandavensis, a hybrid between 
various species, flowers large, handsome and colours very 
beautifully varied, blooming in autumn ; Lemoinei (Hybrid 
Butterfly Gladiolus) a hybrid between G. purpurea-auratus 
and G. gandavensis, with flowers of most delicate and beau- 
tiful shades, growth vigorous, blooming in early autumn ; 
nanceanus, a hybrid between G. Saundersi and G. gandavensis, 
flowers brilliant and varied in colour, free-blooming, flowering 
in autumn ; nanus, hybrids between G nanus and G ramosus, 
flowers most beautiful and suitable for cutting, blooming early 
in July; ramosus, a race of dwarf free-blooming and pretty 
flowering hybrids, blossoming in July and onwards. It 
would take up too much space to enumerate the leading varie- 
ties in section. For these the reader is referred to a good 
bulb list, where he will find them classified in the various 
sections. The species and early-flowering kinds should be 
planted in November if possible, or in February. The corms 
should be planted 4m. deep and 6in. apart in deep, rich soil 
in sunny borders. Care should be taken not to allow manure 
to come in contact with the corms. As a protection from 
frost, cover the bed with a layer of rotten manure after plant- 
ing. In the case of soils that are inclined to be damp in 
winter it is safer to lift the corms annually when the foliage 
withers, and dry and store them away to February, then replant. 
This precaution is not necessary in the case of light, warm soils. 
The late-flowering sections, such as Brenchleyensis, ganda- 
vensis, Childsi, Lemoinei, etc., are best planted in March or 
April. Before planting dig the soil deeply and work in plenty 
of thoroughly well-rotted manure and leaf-mould, and then 
plant the corms 4in. deep and gin. apart. Surround each 
corm with a little silver sand. When the new growth is well 
advanced support each stem with a stake, top-dress with rotten 
manure, give occasional applications of liquid manure and 
ample watering in dry weather. These Gladioli show to best 
