228 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ October, 
plants are taken up, early in October, they are nicely rooted. I then take 
the plants up with a good ball of earth to them, and place them, with the 
young rooted runners, in an old Melon pit, as near the glass as possible. If 
there is a little warmth left in the bed of the pit, they will root and esta¬ 
blish themselves in their winter quarters all the sooner; but they dislike 
strong heat. They are plunged rather thickly in the pit, just allowing 
room enough between the plants for the runners to be relaid—these runners 
being the young plants for the following year. They delight in well-rotted 
leaf mould, of which I use a good portion to bloom them in. 
Though frost will not kill them, I find that by keeping it from them 
they bloom more profusely and throw up finer flowers. I, therefore, in 
severe weather give extra coverings, and I seem always, without any difficulty, 
to gather abundance of blossoms from November till I plant out in April. 
The Gardens, Juniper Hall, Horldnrj. Wm. Dore. 
THE GLADIOLUS IN 1868 . 
ALLOWING the example set by Mr. Tillery, I subjoin my opinion of 
the Gladioli sent out by M. Soucliet last autumn, and which have 
just bloomed with us for the first time. I think it may be affirmed 
they are more remarkable for] quantity than quality; indeed, I am 
constrained to say that several of them ought never to have been sent 
out from an establishment like that of M. Soucliet. Unless many of them 
have done better elsewhere than here, they will scarcely add to the well- 
earned reputation of that veteran raiser. Nevertheless, although we may 
look in vain for a Meyerbeer or a Sliakspeare, we shall find some valuable 
additions to the good sorts already in cultivation. 
The following is a record of my experience : —Bernard de Jussieu, shaded 
violet purple on light ground, new and beautiful in colour, and so far an 
acquisition; but neither in form, substance, nor arrangement of flowers 
on the spike can it substantiate its claim to be considered a first-class 
variety. Eugene Scribe, pale rose flamed carmine, a good honest sort, with 
plenty of substance, and apparently to be depended on. Etendard, blush 
white flamed lilac, a giant both in flower and spike, without a single good 
point to recommend it. La Fiancee, a very pretty delicate white variety. 
Moliere, cherry red, with white throat, moderately good. Mozart, pale rose 
flamed carmine, white centre, a striking flow T er, the blooms well set on a 
handsome spike. Norma, nearly white, one of the best of the year. 
Princesse Alice, lilac shaded rose, white throat; if I have seen it in its true 
character, this is a much over-rated sort. Piossini, dark red, with white 
stripe and throat, noble spike, one of the best. Semiramis, lovely in colour, 
but irretrievably bad in form; the advent of this and some of the others 
