1882 .] 
A.MERICAET AGRICULTURIST. 
413 
The “Sword Lily’’—Gladiolus. 
If there is a plant that deserves to be pop¬ 
ular, it is the Gladiolus or “ Sword Lily.” It 
is showy in the garden, and when the spike 
is cut, its flowers will remain in perfection 
longer than most others. The spikes, a foot 
or more long, are closely set with the flowers. 
into the ground and the spike tied to it in such 
a manner as to completely conceal it. In 
autumn, before the ground freezes, the bulbs 
are to be taken up ; they should be lifted with 
care, in order to save any little bulbs that 
may be attached. Let the bulbs, with such 
leaves as may remain, be exposed all day to 
the sun, then take them to an airy room and 
this year with much interest. The Free- 
flowered Gladiolus ( G. floribundus,) is one of 
the oldest of all; the bulb is quite small, and 
in ordinary winters hardy, but it is safer to 
take it up. While in most kinds the flowers 
form a one-sided spike, in this they are on 
both sides of the stem, erect, rather regular, 
and of a light pink, with darker markings. 
And in what a variety! From pure white 
through all the yellows on one side; from the 
palest blush, through many shades, to the 
most intense of scarlet; and added to these 
“self colors’’there is a wonderful variety of 
markings, blotchings, and shadings produc¬ 
ing the most brilliant effects. But the ex¬ 
pense ?—If one wishes the choice, new, named 
varieties, they will cost from 25 cents up to 
$3 each, and are often worth all they cost. 
But our desire is to popularize the Gladiolus, 
hence we advise the beginner to start with 
unnamed varieties; fine “mixed varieties” 
may be had at a dollar a dozen, and in large 
quantities for less. Very satisfactory kinds 
may be had at this low price, and the begin¬ 
ner can learn about the plants and make his 
future purchases knowingly. The ease with 
which the Gladiolus is cultivated commends 
it. Plant in spring in good soil, at intervals of 
a week, until the middle of June, and a long 
succession of bloom may be had. The soil, 
while good, need not be over rich ; do not 
crowd the bulbs—a foot between them is 
none too much, and in planting, let the top of 
the bulb be four (in very light soil, six) inches 
below the surface. The flower-spikes are 
very heavy, and it is well to give each a sup¬ 
port ; a willow or other stick can be thrust 
allow them to remain several days until the 
dry exterior shows that they are well cured. 
Cut off the top and keep the bulbs in winter in 
a cool, dry place where they will not freeze. 
The Gladiolus is propagated from seeds, 
and by offsets from the old bulb. It is only to 
obtain new varieties that seeds are sown ; the 
usual method is from the offsets. The bulb 
that is planted dies; in autumn it will be 
found in a withered state, with a new bulb by 
its side ; sometimes there will be two, three, 
or more new large bulbs, and often a host of 
small ones, the size of a pea or less. These 
little bulbs, if carefully saved and cultivated 
for a year or two, or more, will make bloom¬ 
ing bulbs ; in taking up in fall, these bulblets 
should be looked to, and those bulbs which 
have them should be laid on paper to dry. 
Our remarks thus far apply to what are 
known as the French Hybrid Gladiolus ( Glad¬ 
iolus gandavensis), the real origin of which 
is not precisely known. These present a great 
number of varieties, and are generally so 
fine that cultivators seem to forget that there 
are any others. There are a number of dis¬ 
tinct species, some of them are quite as fine 
and as worthy of cultivation as the better 
known and more popular French Hybrids. 
We have cultivated several of the species 
The Gold and Purple Gladiolus ( G. purpu- 
reo-auratus, ) is comparatively recent; while 
it does not warrant the high claims made for 
it when first introduced, it is a neat and dis¬ 
tinct species, and has, when crossed with 
others, produced varieties handsomer than 
itself, especially the one called “ Marie Le- 
moine,” which we have also flowered. The 
flower stalk is very tall and slender ; the 
flowers somewhat nodding, pale yellow, 
(hardly “golden,”) with two broad purple 
blotches on the lower divisions. It is the 
few-flowered one at the left in the engrav¬ 
ing. The other is the Dragon’s-head Gladi¬ 
olus ( G. dracocephahis), the flower in profile 
having some resemblance to the head of an 
animal. The color is bronzy-yellow, -more 
odd than brilliant. The flower in this is 
large, and has great firmness or substance, 
qualities that will be useful in hybridizing. 
The Skullc aps. 
The Skullcaps derive their name, as well as 
their botanical designation ( Scutellaria ) from 
a peculiarity of the calyx ; after the corolla 
falls, the mouth of the bell-shaped calyx is 
closed by an appendage (scutella, a dish) which 
gives the whole a resemblance of a tiny hel- 
