GLADI OLUS COMMU'NIS. 
COMMON CORN FLAG. 
Class. Order. 
TRIANDUIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
IRIDACEa:. 
Native of 
Height 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
S. Europe. 
2 feet. 
June, July. 
Perennial. 
in 1596. 
No. 716. 
The name Gladiolus, from the Latin gladius, a 
sword, has been adopted in allusion to the leaves 
of this genus. 
Although this species is common, many zealous 
cultivators of gay plants do not possess it, and it is 
desirable that its claim to a place in every flower- 
garden should be known. It is so completely hardy 
that when once planted it scarcely ever receives fur- 
ther care — a mode of treatment which we desire to 
correct. To produce its flowers in perfection the 
tubers should be taken up in August or Septem- 
ber, the offsets removed, and the full-sized roots, then 
planted in a compost of well-reduced old hotbed 
manure, sand, and a little fresh loam, for flowering. 
This should be repeated every year, and its increased 
beauty will amply repay the trouble. To increase 
it from seeds, they only require to be sown as soon 
as ripe. 
Much novelty has not been heretofore produced, 
amongst its seedlings, but if its flowers were ferti- 
lized with byzantinus, roseus, or any of the tender 
species, the communis would probably impart a 
hardiness which would be very desirable. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 1, 102. 
