1872. ] 
THE GLADIOLUS DISEASE. 
Ill 
higher than is necessary ; 85° will always be a safe bottom-heat. The whole of the- 
succession plants shifted in March will be ready for another shift ; the largest 
plants may be put into their fruiting-pots, the others should have a nice shift, 
but should not be over-potted ; it is a great mistake to put Pine plants into very 
large pots in any stage, but particularly so in the case of small plants. Give air 
freely in the forenoon, but also close up early in the afternoon. Give moderate 
heat to Vines ripening their fruit; dryness and abundance of air during the day, 
leaving some on at night, are at that season beneficial. Attend to the thinning 
of the berries in the successional houses as previously directed, and thin, stop, 
and tie down the shoots as they require it. Muscats should have a night tempera¬ 
ture of from 70° to 75°, but for most other sorts a night temperature of from 
65° to 70° will be sufficient. Give a little air early in the morning and increase 
it as the temperature rises, but always close up with a little sun-heat in the 
afternoon. A moist atmosphere should be maintained in the early Peach 
house whilst the fruit is swelling, but wdien ripening begins the house 
should be kept dry, and plenty of air should be given. When the fruit is 
rips hang nets to the trellis, to prevent them from falling to the ground. Attend 
to the thinning, stopping, and regulating of the shoots in the successional houses. 
Keep all inside borders well watered, and syringe the trees daily. Figs should 
have abundance of water given to the roots, and the foliage should be kept 
heavily syringed, except where there is ripe fruit ; continue to pinch off the 
ends of the shoots when five or six joints long ; give abundance of air. Straw¬ 
berries will now require copious waterings ; all plants must be kept well 
syringed, except those in flower and those having ripe fruit, otherwise the red- 
spider will be difficult to keep down.—M. Saul, Stourton. 
THE GLADIOLUS DISEASE. 
HAT the Gladiolus is more subject to be diseased in some seasons than in 
others, shows that it is a plant of delicate constitution, and easily affected 
by our cold, wet summers. From this cause, the disease was more 
general last year than usual, and most extensive growers had to mourn 
over great losses in their beds. Coming originally from a warm climate, the 
Gladiolus requires our warmest summers and autumns to ripen its corms properly * 
and this is the cause why the Continental growers have a better chance of raising 
seedlings and growing them than we have. Man}?- gardeners, however, have, in 
their forcing-houses or greenhouses, the means to raise a few boxes or pots of 
Gladiolus from seed yearly; and in this way, after two or three years’ growth, 
they may be able to make up all their wants in their best beds. It is astonishing 
that small, well-ripened corms will show fine spikes the second or third year 
from the seed, if pushed on with a little heat in the spring months. It is best 
to select a dozen of the best-shaped show varieties, and grow them in pots for 
seeding purposes. They can then readily be protected from the weather and 
bees in a greenhouse or other erection, and crossed with the view to the raising 
