COMPANION TO THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 
21 
After this digression, I have merely to add that seed is gathered as it 
ripens, and the beds must be looked over attentively every two or three 
days, or much will be lost. It is stored away in a dry, warm place, in 
the husks, and rubbed out before the sowing time, which is, with me, about 
the middle of March,—in boxes well drained and placed in hotbeds. In 
six weeks the young plants will be sufficiently large to be carefully sepa¬ 
rated, potted in small pans singly, returned to heat, and kept close a few 
days; they are then hardened off, and placed afoot apart in the rows and 
from each other, in plots of ground prepared for their reception. Their 
greatest enemies—and they must be contended with—are slugs, and 
every precaution should be taken that none are introduced or allowed to 
get into the frames,—or hundreds, when in their seed-leaves only, will 
be destroyed. After planting out, these voracious creatures must be 
searched for almost nightly, or many plants will disappear; and I know 
of no means so efficacious in checking their depredations as a pair of 
sharp eyes and a good lantern, employed at about ten p.m. 
As the seedlings bloom they are to be examined with critical eye, 
compared with others, and all “ the rogues,^ as they appear, must be 
removed unsparingly before contamination takes place. 
As to the qualities of a good Verbena, space will only admit of my 
saying, that I consider a full truss, closely imbricated and showing no 
deficiency in the middle, and colours that do not fade under full expo¬ 
sure to the sun, indispensable. 
Upwey, Dorchester. John Miller. 
GLADIOLI IN POTS. 
This beautiful flower, which is now beginning to show the fruits of 
judicious hybridization, is every year becoming more popular, especially 
the hybrids of Gandavensis. 
It is not long since the parent Gandavensis was thought exceedingly 
beautiful, but is now eclipsed by numbers of its progeny; almost every 
shade of colour is to be found amongst the numerous varieties, and I am 
somewhat surprised they have not been more extensively grown in pots 
for autumn decoration of conservatories and greenhouses; flowering at 
a time when a variety is not easily attainable, they become of considerable 
value, as their fine foliage and distinct character add greatly to the ap¬ 
pearance of any glass structure, more especially as the majority of glass 
houses contain during the autumn principally Fuchsias, with occasionally 
a few Scarlet Geraniums, excepting in large establishments, where a dis¬ 
play is expected the whole year. The Gladiolus even here would not be 
out of place, as its flag-like foliage and spikes of brilliant flowers would 
not easily be eclipsed. For persons of moderate means, and amateurs 
especially, it is of great value, as these and Phloxes, which are now vastly 
