1868 . j 
GLADIOLUS GOSSIP. 
57 
pale greenish yellow, streaked with russetty brown ; it is very thin, and 
cracks lengthways as the fruit ripens. The flesh is of a bright red through¬ 
out, thick, syrupy, and most delicious in flavour. The eye is large and 
open. The fruit sometimes, when fully grown, either from want of sufficient 
heat, or from too much moisture, splits from the eye into two or three 
pieces, which curve backwards, thus expqsing the bright red interior. 
The plant is of stout and robust growth, with large, deep green, mode¬ 
rately lobed leaves. It is a free-bearing variety, well suited for pot culture, 
and ripening rather late in the season. A. F. B. 
GLADIOLUS GOSSIP. 
^ONG have I wished to say a few words about the Gladiolus, inasmuch 
as I am under a strong conviction that there is a good deal of false 
doctrine afloat concerning the culture of this flower. The time for 
planting being now at hand, I will begin with a few remarks 
connected with that important operation. Assuming that the bulbs 
have been safely wintered, and are in good condition, the chief points for 
consideration are—firstly, the nature and condition of the soil in which they 
are to be placed; and secondly, the best mode of depositing them therein. 
Gladioli will grow in any good garden soil. I have seen them thriving 
in soils of the most varied character, although I have no doubt diversity 
of soil would render some difference of treatment desirable, if not necessary- 
A moderately light, porous soil will give the least trouble, but I know,, 
from experience, that they can be grown, and grown well, even upon a 
retentive clay. My own soil is of this character, although much ameliorated 
by suitable manuring and drainage. This latter is indispensable. I believe 
retention of moisture about the bulbs to be a fruitful cause of that mys¬ 
terious disease, from whose ravages, at some time or other, few growers 
escape, and of which I may have something to say on a future occasion. 
A very high condition of soil is not desirable. What I would insist on, as 
a sine qua non, is deep and thorough cultivation. To this I believe I owe 
what success I have obtained in Gladiolus-growing. Let me briefly 
describe my own practice. As early in the autumn as possible, while the 
earth yet retains some considerable portion of its accumulated heat, 
I trench the ground reserved for the purpose, removing the top spit to the 
depth of 9 inches, and turning up the lower spit fully 1 foot deep, putting 
a layer of very rotten manure between the two spits. At planting time, 
about the end of March or beginning of April, I dig a row of trenches, 
4 feet apart, from the centre of one to the centre of the other, so as to 
allow a pathway 3 feet wide between each double row of flowers. From 
these trenches 4 inches only of earth are thrown out, and the soil at the 
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