234 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
Daffodil, and others the N. angustifolius type. The orange tints on some of 
these crosses vary in different seasons. On many the cup will one year be 
orange -tinted, and the next plain yellow. 
“ The Daffodils crossed by N. Tazetta produce plants intermediate between 
the two in general; but sometimes the cup is not longer than in Tazetta. The 
flowers on each stalk vary; two, four, and up to six occurring. These crosses 
vary in colour and size, according to the nature of the parent Tazetta ; but the 
produce does not seed with me, except that last year one pod, producing one 
seed, occurred from, perhaps, a couple of hundred flowers. A warmer climate 
than mine might produce different results. No pollen is to be got from it to 
cross with the Daffodil parent. 
“ The per-centage of seedlings showing striking peculiarities is but small 
from any of these crosses, and the colours only partially follow What might be 
expected from the parents; the cross from N. moschatus by angustifolius not 
being always white, and I have from fcetidus by angustifolius some with green 
flowers. Before dusting with pollen I cut out the stamens, except in the kinds 
which only seed when crossed; but in out-of-door plants, where there are 
numerous others about of the same genus, there is no certainty but that some¬ 
times the bees may be the authors of a different cross. I have sometimes 
tied the mouth of the cup in the Daffodils for a time to prevent access, but in 
most cases the result shows the intended cross to have taken place.” 
M. 
ON THE CULTURE OF GLADIOLI IN POTS FOR THE 
CONSERYATORY. 
To those who sometimes find it difficult to provide a continuous succession 
of plants in bloom for the conservatory, a word or two on the above subject 
may not be uninteresting. 
Of all the flowers that have recently become popular, there are none to my 
mind more deserving of attention than the Gladiolus. It can be grown in pots 
without heat or under glass, and can be had in almost any colour, from white 
to deep crimson; and during the months of August and September, when the 
variety of plants is rather limited, it makes a very pleasing and graceful 
display. I exhibited ten varieties at the recent autumn show of the South¬ 
ampton Horticultural Society, and they awakened considerable interest in that 
part of the country, and were much admired by all who saw them. 
I do not advise a trial of the very newest sorts, but such as Jeanne d’Arc, 
Auchine, Fanny Rouget, Adonis, Helene, Berenice, Penelope, Madame Coudere, 
Sulphureus, Celine, M. Blouet, and Albertus, which can be obtained from any 
nurseryman at the rate of from 65 . to 9s. per dozen. I can confidently 
recommend these twelve varieties, having grown them very successfully by the 
following method: — 
I pot up my bulbs about the middle of April, and am always very particular 
about the nature of the compost I use. It is composed of half maiden loam, 
and for the other parts leaf mould, or peat, rotten dung, and silver sand, in 
equal proportions. I mix these ingredients well together, but do not sift the 
soil after mixing, as when sifted it is apt to get sour on account of the plants 
requiring a great deal of v/ater during their growth. The pots I recommend 
are sizes known as 16 and 24-pots, but they can be grown in 32 or even 
48-pots, but so fine a spike cannot be obtained from the small-sized pots. When 
potting I am always careful to have good drainage, and to bury the bulb 
2 inches under the surface, so as to leave room for the new bulbs to form, as they 
