SB 413.G5D66"'""'"'">"-"'^^^i' iiJiiiiliM£™,i.i^^.,^i?,!^ry'<="'tivation 3 1924 002 806 622 THE GLADIOLTS, «»a PS'l BY THE EEV. H. HONYWOOD DOMBEAIN, B.A., BDITOB OP THE FLORAL MAGAZINE, AND HONOKABY SECEBTABT OF THE METROPOLITAN PLOBAL SOCIKTTf. LONDON: L. REEVE AND 00., 5 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1873. PRICE ONE SHILLING. □luBtrated Catalogaes Gratis and post free. Jixa^txinX &Kx1smg, i^anS i^omi. DICK RADCLYFFE & Co., SEED & BULB MERCHANTS, GARDEN FURNISHERS, HORTICULTURAL DECORATORS AND BUILDERS, 129 HIGH HOLBORN, And at the Boyal lorliciiltnral Gardens, Keniington. Seed Gionnds, Erfiiit, Fmsia. Every Garden Kequisite. SEEDS, PLANTS, (TIADIi Ui.BE.) FERN CASES, AQUARIA. BULBS. FERNS. Xllnstrated Oatalognes Gratis and post free. THE GLADIOLUS, Its l^tstorg, Culttbati0n, ant (!Hx{)i6ttton» BY THE EEV. H. HONYWOOD DOMBRAIN, B.A., EDITOR OF THE FLORAL MAGAZINE, AND HONORARY SECRETARY OF THE METEOPOLITAN FLORAL SOCIETY. LONDON : L. REEVE AND CO., 5 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1873. ( LONDON : MITCHELL AND HUGHES, PEINTEEB, WABDOrE STEEET, "W. PREFACE. It is impossible to be poetical in writing on tbe Gladiolus, for it would be as difficult to find a rbyme for it as for porringer. I cannot be senti- mental — no lover could call Ms inamorata, My Gla- diolus. To be learned is out of the question ; the ancients did not know it, and so I cannot cog a list of quotations from Homer downwards; I have, there- fore, only aimed to be practical. If the details given may seem to many to be trivial, I would only say that I have endeavoured to carry out what the veteran Mr. Rivers has said in his Rose Amateur's Guide, " a practical cultivator in writing on culti- vation labours under a disadvantage ; he almost oh- ly PREFACE. sfcinately supposes that every one must know some- thing relative to these, with him, every-day opera- tions ; he is apt, therefore, not to go sufficiently into detail. I have strenuously combated this feeling, and humbly trust that what I have written on that subject will be found sufficiently explicit." And in this spirit I too have written, and I hope my readers may receive it as an evidence of a desire to give all the information I could on the subject. THE GLADIOLUS. CHAPTER I. ITS HISTOKT. No flower has so rapidly gained for itself a pro- minent position in tlie florist's estimation as the Gladiolus. While the grower of Auriculas can win prizes with flowers that were in growth seventy or eighty years ago, and the Rose-grower can gaze on the as yet unsurpassed form of Coupe d'Hehe, or Charles Lawson ; nay, can revel in the fragrance of the old Cabhage, which was introduced three centuries ago, the growth of the Gladiolus as a florists' flower is a matter of about twenty years ; while so great is the improvement that has been 2 THE GLADIOLUS. of late years made in it, tliat if we were to take the names of the flowers in the winning stands at our great metropolitan shows, we should not find on them any flowers of more than seven or eight years' standing. In the Flower Garden, a very complete repository of florists' flowers, to which I now often myself refer, — published in 1860, — no mention whatever is made of the Gla- diolus save as a border flower ; yet so rapidly has it improved, indeed I may almost say through the exertions of one man, Mons. Souchet, of Pontaine- bleau, that it has acquired a size, completeness of form, and grandeur of appearance, that make it a formidable rival of all other autumnal flowers ; occupying less space than the Dahlia or Hollyhock, it rivals them both in the brilliancy and variety of its colom'ing, and on an Exhibition Table is by most persons preferred to either. The Gladiolus has a corm, similar in form to that of the Crocus, and as far as the individual corm is concerned, is an annual, that which is planted dying every year, and new ones being formed above the old corm, from which they have ITS HISTORY. 3 to be separated at the time of taking up. It migM seem to be superfluous to mention this, but that I haye met with at least two growers who seemed to be in happy ignorance of this fact, although how they could have ever taken up a number and not seen it, I cannot understand.* Por a number of years some species have been grown as border flowers, notably G. cardmalis, introduced about 1789, and G-. ramosm,f about 1840. But the present race is the offspring of varied and repeated intercrossing between Nata- lensis or psittacinus, and oppositi&orus, and espe- cially of Gandavensis. Gandavensis was a seed- ling from psittacinus, and originated at Ghent, in the same way that that very handsome border flower Brenchleyensis was originated some twenty-eight years ago at Brenchley in Kent, by Mr. Hooker, whose son I had the pleasure of meeting at the * While this was passing through the press a letter was sent to me to answer, in which the writer wishes to know what is the hard corm at the bottom of the new one, and whether he is right in removing it ! f Ramosus is said to be a seedhng from iloribundus, or a cross between cardinaHs and floribundus. 4 THE GLADIOLUS. Crystal Palace lately. I asked Mm if he could tell me when it was raised, but he could not. I remem- ber, however, very distinctly obtaining a bulb of it in 1847 at Canterbury. So lately as the year 1850, hardly any mention is made ia the Florist of any varieties save those of the ramosus section ; and in an article on them in that work for 1851, where one of the ramosus sec- tion. Von Gagern, is figured, the writer says three of the most beautiful are those now sold by the trade under the names of fioribundus, Gandavensis, and Brenchleyensis. Coming on to the year 1859, about which period I thiak Mr. Standish became a grower of them at Bagshot ; (at any rate in that year he exhibited a good stand of them at the Crystal Palace,) Berthe Babourdin was selected for illustra- tion as beiag one of the best then in cultivation; and in a list taken from his catalogue I find recom- mended as amongst the best such kinds as Madame Binder, Vesta, Don Juan, Dr. Andre, etc. It must be borne in mind that this was only thirteen years ago ; and let any one take these varieties and compare them with such kinds as Madame Desportes, Norma, ITS HISTORY. 5 Horace Vernet, Phoebus, etc., and can lie resist tlie conclusion tliat the advance of late years has gone at an accelerated pace ? People oftentimes complain when new varieties of florists' flowers are brought out, that there is great sameness, in fact no improve- ment whatever ; but I have always found that the best way to answer such statements is to give up the point, so far as any individual flower is con- cerned, but at the same time to ask the objectors how it comes to pass that, although such things are said, yet when an exhibitor desires to select the most taking varieties, he so frequently has to se- lect the varieties of the last few years ; and that when we come to compare the drawings by the same artist, the difference is so very striking between those figured a dozen years ago and those figured now. The improvement in each year may not be so very remarkable, but it is appreciable, and ia the course of three or four years the strides made strike us very forcibly. The proper pronunciation of the word is always a puzzle. I have heard of a horticultural society which always kept it, as the Frenchman did his 6 THE GLADIOLUS. one snipe, to afford sport when otlier subjects of conversation flagged. By right it ought to be, I think. Gladiolus, all short, as if spelt Gladjolus ; perhaps the next most correct form would be Gladidlus ; and the one which it, I suppose, retains, is the worst of the three. Gladiolus. The one person to whom we are indebted for the many valuable varieties of the Gladiolus at present in cultivation is M. Souchet, of Pontainebleau. It is now, I believe, forty-five years since he first attempted their cultivation, and it is not too much to say that the progress made by him during the last ten years has been greater than that of the previous thirty-five. I well remember, many years ago, a friend coming to me with a number of a gardening journal in his hand, and pointing to a figure of a new Gladiolus, "Don Juan," which had been just then introduced, asking me if it was possible to imagine anything finer than it- — and yet what a poor thing it is now. The extent to which M. Souchet cultivates them may be gathered from the fact, that not only are all or nearly-all the new varieties which come to us from France, his seedlings, but nearly ITS HISTORY. 7 all the bulbs also are grown by him. The Prencb growers find that it answers their purpose better to obtain them from him, and hence the whole of his growth passes into their hands. Messrs. Vilmorin and Co., Messrs. Charles Verdier, fils, Eugene Verdier, and Loise, are I believe the houses to which they are supplied. His chief cultivations are not now at Fontainebleau ; the hotness of the soil, and the vicinity to the forest, which subjects him to the attacks of the grub of the cockchafer, the " ver blanc " which Prench nurserymen dread so much, has led him to remove them chiefly to Montereau, and there many acres are devoted to their culture. M. Souchet does not, I believe, hybridize to any extent, but trusts to the operation being performed by insects. The example set by M. Souchet was, about the year 1859, followed by that most active and per- severing hybridizer, Mr. Standish, then living at Bagshot, and was followed up by him on thoroughly scientific principles for some years ; when, finding the soil of his nursery not suitable for their growth, and being then intent on removing to his present 8 THE GLADIOLUS. nursery at Ascot, he abandoned their culture for other and larger matters, not before, however, he had raised some fine seedlings. I well remember a " John Standish," which for brilliancy of colour has never been surpassed, but which was unfor- tunately lost ; while others, such as Eleanor Norman (very like Eurydice), Randle Jackson, and John Davis were flowers of good form and character. They were, however, never widely distributed, and with the exception of one or two which I retain for " auld lang syne," I do not think any of them now remain in cultivation. Of late Mr. Standish's pre- dilection for them has revived, and he hopes by the infusion of the blood of G. cruentus, a species intro- duced by Mr. William Bull, of Chelsea, to originate a new race. The largest English raiser, however, is Mr. Kelway, of Langport in Somerset, who may be called the Souchet of England. In his exhibition beds last season he planted 3500 bulbs, and ia his store beds 800,000 ! All who have attended our metropolitan and many of our provincial shows know what splendid stands of Gladiolus he exhibits, most of them being his own seedlings. A published ITS HISTORY. 9 catalogue of them, whicli I have now before me contains, I should, imagine, names and descriptions of at least five hundred seedlings, and there can be but one opinion of the excellence of very many of them. Mr. Douglas, the intelligent gardener of F. "Whitbourne, Esq., of Loxford HaU, Ilford, has also exhibited, some fine seedlings, which have gained fijst-class certificates ; and my excellent friend Mr. Banks, of Sholden, well-known as the raiser of the finest Euchsias in cultivation, has also produced some fine seedlings, of which I hope to know more anon. ( 10 ) CHAPTER II. CULTURE. Surely no patient wlio lias been subjected to the various systems of treatment that have prevailed in the medical world has gone through greater vicis- situdes than the Gladiolus. From the time that bleeding was regarded as the remedy for all the ills that flesh is heir to, through the period of blue pills and black draughts until the poor sufferer imagined he had swallowed the whole contents of the chemist's shop, on to the time when champagne and brandy, curagoa and cream are prescribed as necessary for the weakness of our debilitated race, or the " thou- sands " and "millions" of the homoeopathic prac- titioners, what shifting treatment has our poor frame been subjected to ! So it has been with the Gladiolus. When (now a good many years ago) it CUJ^'TURE. 11 came prominently into notice through the efforts of Mr. Standish, then of Bagshot, who with his usual zeal was engaged in hyhridizing it, it was considered that it could not be grown in too poor a soU, and the advice was given that if it was not poor enough it had better be charred or burnt to make it so ; but experience proved this to be unsound, and a rich soil was considered by no means unsuitable. Then came the high pressure treatment ; heaps of manure in the soil, heavy top-dressings above it, and then what blooms we shaU have ! But the strongest advocates of this system found that they had been a little too fast, and that although they obtained fine blooms, they lost their bulbs. Siace then a more moderate system has been practised. I believe the Gladiolus may be successfully grown in almost any soU. Certainly a stiff tenacious loam does not suit it, but there are means of making this lighter; and although it woTild involve a greater amount of labour, yet no lover of the flower would grudge this to overcome any difB.culties in the way of growing it. The soU which M. Souchet declares best suited for it is that which is commonly known 12 THE GLADIOLUS. as a good market-garden soil, neitlier too stiff nor too light. Mr. Youell, of Great Yarmouth, used to exhibit some splendid specimens of Gladiolus Brench- leyensis which were grown in a soil somewhat similar to the Dutch bulb gardens about Haarlem — rich friable loam at top and cool \mdemeath ; and such a soil, where springs were not far off, would seem to be the most congenial for it. I would strongly urge that it should never be planted ia freshly turned-up soil. I hare learned this by sad experience. Three years ago I planted mine in a part of my garden which had up to two years before that been a meadow, and the previous season had potatoes in it. Half my roots were devoured by wireworms, the destructive little things eatiag through the shoot just as it appeared above ground. Had I a tenacious soil to deal with, I should first of all drain the beds, and then, when planting, should take out a larger portion of the soil than under ordinary circumstances. It is desirable that the beds be in a sheltered, not shaded position, for, owing to the character of its growth, it affords a good hold to the wind, and CULTUBE. 13 unless the spikes are secured they will siiffer con- siderably from it. In tMs part of England the south-westerly gales are the winds most injurious to us, and where the garden is exposed to them it will be necessary to provide some shelter. I make my beds about four feet wide, so that it is easy to get at any of the plants, and I plant four rows in a bed. It is generally recommended to plant a foot apart in the rows, and where space is no consideration it may be done, but I do not see the necessity for so doing. The roots do not spread, and hence eight inches apart would, I think, be ample. M. Souchet plants his eveji closer than this, and I have seen as fine blooms with him as have ever come under my notice ; finer I cannot say, because I think nothing can surpass the flowers that have been exhibited at our metropolitan shows the last two years. There are two ways of preparing the beds, both of which I have adopted, and I cannot say that I have perceived any difference in the results, while one is attended with more trouble than the other. One plan is to excavate the beds to the depth of thirteen inches, place a layer of well-rotted cow 14 THE GLADIOLUS. dung about four inches thick at the bottom, and then return the mould ; and as the bulbs are planted at about four inches deep, there will then be four inches between the base of the bulbs and the maniu'e. The other plan is to place some well rotted manure on the bed and then dig in deeply, so as to cover the manure. November is about the best time for this operation. They can then have the benefit of the winter frost; and indeed, during severe weather it is better to turn up the surface roughly, so as to give them all the benefit of its sweetening power. The time for planting will vary according to the situation. There is at least a fortnight's difference in the period of blooming between the north and south of England, and about ten days between the south of England and Paris. At Eontainebleau from the 5th to the 15th of August is the height of the blooming season ; with us from the 15th to the 30th, and in the north of England from the 25th of August to the 7th of September, as far as I can judge. I generally plant between the 2nd of March and the 10th of April, according to the character of CULTURE. 15 the weather, being never in a hurry to plant before the first-named day, and ready to seize any fine weather after it. It is very undesirable with it, as with any bulb or plant, to place it in the ground when the soil is " stodgy." In planting, I take out with a good deep trowel the soil to the depth of six or seven inches, and make a hole about five inches across; this I fill with a mixture of sand, powdered charcoal, and light soil in about equal proportions, so that the bulb, when it begins to start and throw out its rootlets, has a light and dry material iato which to penetrate, and thus is likely to be saved from rotting, and taking care that the top of the bulb is about four inches beneath the surface. My friend Mr. Banks in planting strips off the outer coat so as to see the condition of the bulb, and if any indi- cation of disease is present he can detect it, for it cannot always be seen when the outer coat is on ; and he thus endeavours to secure that his priacipal beds should not have any blanks in them; when this is done, the embryo shoots can easUy be seen, and according to their number will be the number 16 THE &LADIOLirS. of the flowering stems and the mimber of the bulbs produced, if all goes on well ; but when a variety is scarce, he takes a sharp knife and divides the bulb in two, keeping one shoot to each portion, for, as he says, it sometimes may happen that one of the shoots of the bulb, if left entire, may not start, and that which does may not throw up as good a spike ; but that by thus separating them he ensures their starting, and he believes also a better spike of bloom than if the bulbs were left entire. He is so experienced a cultivator that I am quite sure he would not adopt this practice had he not found it successful; but, personally, I have never ventured on it — indeed, did not until this year hear of it. Large bulbs always bloom the earHest, so that with judicious manage- ment spikes of flowers may be had under ordinary circumstances for nearly three months ; and ia the case of the smaller bulbs it is desirable not to plant them quite so deeply. When I have one row finished I cover up and commence the second, placing a label to each sort, and writing the beds in my garden book, so that if the label go wrong I am not at a loss, while the presence of the label enables CULTUBE. 17 me to tell the sort without having to refer to my book. Por this reason of easy reference, I plant the length of the beds, not across, and enter thus in my books : — Bed No. 1. Bulbs. 1st row. — Eurydice 4 Orphee 5 Meyerbeer .... 10 2nd row. — Norma 10 etc. etc. I can thus tell at a glance what misses there may be, and know what bulbs I have to look for in the taking up. After the planting, the beds will require but little care until the shoots appear above ground; they should then be carefully weeded. I prefer doing this by the hand, as the hoe may sometimes slip, and cut off a promising shoot. When the shoots are about a foot high they should be secured from the action of the wind. This may be done in two ways : 1. By placing a stake to each plant ; and for this purpose I use those imported from Germany about five feet in length, first tarring c 18 THE GLADIOLUS. them about a foot up, and painting them. This is the most troublesome and expensive method, but, at the same time, the most satisfactory one. 2. You may drive thick stakes about an inch square into the ground, take two long pieces of list, or trimmings of drugget, which may be procured from any draper, tack one at each side of the stake, and then weave them in and out, holding the shoot thus in a loop ; this should be done about nine inches from the ground, and then, as the plants advance, another line may be made, so as to hold the flower stem. This is much more quickly done, is more inex- pensive, but not quite so effective as the former. The Gladiolus being an iridaceous plant, delights in moisture, and therefore in dry seasons the beds will require watering, and happy are they who have good soft water. Here mine comes from the chalk, and so impregnated is the water with it, that my kitchen boiler, which I had cleaned out the other day, had in it a deposit of lime in some parts more than an inch thick. I believe this to be injurious to the bulbs, and hence in moist seasons my bulbs do better, not only because I believe such a time CULTURE. 19 suits them Ijetter, but because, when I do water, there is a good supply of raia-water to go to. Mulching I believe to be a very good and safe practice. Good old hotbed manure should be used for this purpose, and it should be spread regularly over the bed; it prevents evaporation, the ground does not cake with watering, and the manure is serviceable to the plant. Where blackbirds are numerous, one is likely to be annoyed by them, as they scratch it about in their search for worms, and therefore the beds should be watched so as to prevent their being laid bare. In the instructions that I have given for culture, I have ever supposed that exhibiting the flowers is the end in view. I have done so advisedly, not because I suppose that every grower wiU be an exhibitor, but because the highest style of culture is that which is practised by those who exhibit the flowers. The plant may be grown successfully for all ordinary purposes without so much care, but to grow it to perfection it wUl be needful to give it the more attention; and so, with this object in view, I approach the subject of shading. No one who grows 20 THE GLADIOLUS. the flower for ordinary purposes of garden decora- tion will care to take the trouble of shading, while I do not believe that perfect flowers can in some seasons be had without it, and the duration of the blooming season is greatly prolonged by its use. After trying various plans for shading, I have adopted the following, which is both inexpensive and easy, when the entire bed is to be shaded. (The shading of single spikes I shall notice presently.) I first of aU procure some rod iron, and have it made into the following shape — t feet CULTURE. 21 and use about one in erery six feet of the bed ; I tben get some common larcb posts — of course fir painted would look better, but I find tbat tbe larch answers sufficiently well — these posts are about two inches by three in substance, and about fire feet long ; they are driven into the ground just outside the edge of the bed, and have two small iron staples driven in about a foot apart on the outside, just sufficient to catch the iron rods, which are thus fixmly held; when they are thus arranged, long battens about two inches square are laid along at «, and are secured in their places by yarn ; a cover of thick calico is then made the entire length and width of the bed, and tapes are sevm on at intervals ; this is thrown over the framework, and the shading is completed. But to some even this will not be sufficient, as the protection from rain and wiad is not complete, and for such Mr. Chapman, the well-known inventor of the cases for exhibiting flowers, has supplied some protectors, of which the following is a sketch : — 22 THE GLADIOLUS. ^1 I have not "used them myself, but hope to do so next year, but as far as I can see, they will be very effective. I do not think that they should be placed over the spike until the bloom is begia- ning to open, and that air should be given on all favourable occasions. There can be no doubt of the complete protec- tion they afford to the bloom, and some of those highly finished spikes shewn by Lord Hawke last year were grown in protectors of a somewhat similar character. Culture of Offsets. "When the Gladiolus bulbs are taken up, there will be found in most cases, adhering to them, small corms, which the Prench call "bulbules," and we, generally, " spawn," varying in number, in size, and in position. I have taken up single corms, from which I have rubbed off nearly two hundred large CULTURE OP OFFSETS. 23 and small offsets. I have taken up eight or ten of other varieties from which I have not obtained altogether half a dozen. Some varieties, such as Orph^e, Horace Vernet, Delicatissima, I find very prolific, while again others, such as Madame Des- portes, Adolphe Broignart, and Michel Ange, I find very shy of increase ; and this will account for the reason why some corms continue to maintain a high price in the catalogues longer than others. These small corms vary in size from a pin's head to a good sized filbert, and are placed in the most irregular way, sometimes underneath the outer skin of. the corms, sometimes on footstalks springing from the base, but most frequently adhering by their base to the base of the corm. Where they are of the larger size they will bloom the next year, but generally they take two or three years to give a large, full- sized spike. The plan which I adopt, after trying various methods, is, when they are taken off, to place them in brown-paper bags with some very dry sand, and store them until the following spring. I then select a spot facing the south, where the soil is rich and light (the border in front of a green- 24 THE GLADIOLUS. house is an excellent place) ; it is best to select the large-sized corms, and plant them about three inches apart; the remainder I sow in a drUl, just as I should sow peas, placing a little sand in the bottom of the drill. Like the flowering corms, they wiU require water in dry weather, more especially as the situation will necessarily be exposed to much sun heat. Raising Seedlings. No flower gives greater facilities for hybridizing than the Gladiolus. The sexual organs are so well seen and can be so easily manipulated, and, as a general rule, seed is so abundantly produced, that it is no wonder that so many who have cultivated it should also have aspired to being raisers of seedlings. There is such a fascination about it, an excitement in watching the opening buds, in noting anything remarkable in the way of colour or form, that it is sure to be popular. It is true that, as in the case of all flowers, the percentage of really first- rate sorts is very small, the greatest raiser of our RAISING SEEDLINGS. 25 day, M. Souchet, never sending out more than three or four really first-rate seedlings, every year ; but this seed may be the germ of the Koh-i-noor — may take the first prize in the lottery. And even should all not hybridize, we can, where a first-rate collection is grown, always gather a suflB.cient quantity of seed to insure some good flowers. In hybridizing, it will be necessary to carefully watch the flowers to be operated on, and to cut away the stamens, as bees are excessively fond of rolling themselves in the deep basin formed at the bottom of the flower, selecting for our mother plant one of good form and substance, and using the pollen of distinctly-coloured or well-marked flowers. When the seed-pod has ripened, which may be known by its splitting gradually open, and before it becomes so ripe as to shed the seed, it should be gathered and put in a dry place until the spring, either in a paper-bag or in a flower-pot. In the month of March a slight hotbed should be pre- pared, large enough to hold any small frame that it may be convenient to use; when the hotbed is made in the ordinary way, and is ready to receive 26 THE GLADIOLUS. the seed, drills should be made, and tlie seed sown lightly in them, using a light soil for the top of the bed, and about three inches in depth ; the seeds need not be coyered more than a quarter of an inch. If they are good they will soon germinate, and will require gentle watering. As soon as the grass attains the height of four or five inches, they may be gradually hardened by leaving off the lights during the day, and ultimately altogether. It will be necessary to keep them clear of weeds, but no further trouble will be required, and when the foliage dies down, they may be taken up and treated precisely in the same manner as offsets. Some of these will bloom the next season, but the greater number not until the second year. Need I say that raisers should be very careful as to those they select to try again ? We are so inclined to think so well of our own productions, and take such magnify- ing-glasses in examining them, that it is sometimes most amusing to see the manner in which an inferior seedling is belauded by the raiser; and then we have to recollect that there are others in advance of us, and that by the time ours are blooming bulbs HARVESTING THE COEMS. 27 they may have something far better than anything we at present possess. Harvesting the Corms. It is very important for the nest year's blooming that the corms be properly harvested, and yet. owing to the character of our climate in the latter part of October and in November, this is not always an easy matter. In some localities the foliage will decay much sooner than in others, and some sorts which are late in blooming retain their greenness until very late in the autumn. I do not therefore think that it is necessary to wait until the foliage entirely decays, indeed I have, in fact, seen in Oc- tober large quantities of them in Prance taken up when quite green, the foliage immediately cut off, and the bulbs put by to dry, and they did not, it was clear, suffer from it. My recommendation would be, towards the end of October, when the foliage begins to shew symptoms of fading, and the ground is comparatively dry, to take them up, whenever the weather is favourable. As much of 28 THE GLADIOLUS. the earth, as can he conveniently removed, without disturbing the spawn, should be taken away, and then they should he tied together with their labels, and hung up in some airy place to dry gradually ; after about a fortnight's time they may be taken down, the foliage cut off with a sharp knife close to the bulb, the spawn all removed, and the bulbs cleaned of the dirt adhering to them, and then laid out on a shelf to be still further dried for another fortnight, before placing them in their winter quarters. My friend Mr. Banks has a low span-roofed greenhouse, Mnih slate shelves, in which he used to bloom his Calceolarias in the spring and Chrysanthemums in autumn ; this is now used for the maturirig of his Gladiolus. They are laid out, foliage and all, on these shelves, and as they dry off are taken away and stored, and nothing can be better adapted for them than this is. Those who have orchard-houses may very easily put some planks in at this season, and so utilize them. When they have become sufficiently dried, they may either be put away in paper bags, or else in shallow boxes with divisions. I prefer this latter plan; the bulbs are more HAEVESTING THE CORMS. 29 separated, and when ttiey are close together they are apt to draw moisture from one another and throw out rootlets. I have hoxes, roughly made, divided into ten or twelve compartments, and the bulhs of a variety are placed in one of these ; these compartments are numbered, and each box is entered in a book, so that no possible mistake can arise; these boxes are then placed in a dry room. Sooth to say, I put them in my study, which does not during the winter months assume a very tidy appearance. I place these boxes on top of one another, but so that all have air, examining them from time to time to see that no damp accumulates on them, or that they are not throwing out rootlets, which take away from the strength of the bulb. A fruit room in a large estabKshment would be the very place for them, where they could be laid out separately on the shelves, and so have plenty of air, for it is very material that they be kept dry during the time they are in their winter quarters. Paper bags are used by some of our best cultivators, and where the collection is large this will be a better plan than the one I have indicated. When the 30 THE GLADIOLUS. collection is very large, a room should be allotted to them, fitted round with shallow trays, where the bulbs can be separately placed, and frost kept out by means of a small stove. Here, too, may be placed the offsets and seedling bulbs. Those who grow only a few will find out a way to keep them dry and cool in the winter, even though their means and appliances may be small, for necessity is the mother of invention, and with no one more so than with the florist. ( 31 ) CHAPTER III. EXHIBITION. No flower has attracted greater attention or given a more brilliant appearance to an autumn show than the Gladiolus. It relieves the monotony of the long flat boxes of Dahlias, Roses, and Asters, and its wonderful variety of colour is not surpassed by any of the flowers in whose company it is found. Less fragile, too, than many exhibition flowers, it stands the previous journey and the lengthened sojourn in the exhibition-room far better than many, and hence is, I think, KkeJy to be shewn in greatly increased numbers. It has gone through as many changes on the exhibition stand as it has done in culture. I can remember when it has been shewn with fern-leaves and foliage of other kinds. I can recall collections 32 THE GLADIOLUS. in which the spikes were shewn in Yucca leaves and stitched into them, and collections whei?e the spikes were falling about in all directions without any support; these have all passed away, a better state of things now prevails, and no flowers are more neatly set up than they are. All foliage except their own is discarded, and in many cases this is not used, but a few of the sword-shaped leaves, judiciously placed, set off the flowers very much. There are now two methods generally adopted ; one is to procure flat stands, either painted green or covered with green baize, to place in them tubes for water at regular distances, and then to have behind each row of tubes a brass rod, which goes into two brass uprights, and to this the spikes are tied ; this keeps them in an upright position, and the whole stand has a neat appearance. I have myself adopted for some years, and can conscientiously recommend them to all exhibitors of the Gladiolus, the stands made by Mr. W. E. Chapman, of which the follow- ing is a sketch : — EXHIBITION. 33 The Iron uprights are moveable, so that they may be used for shewing Clematis, etc. It will be seen that each spike has a separate iron rod to which it is attached, and thus all appear- ance of their being supported is done away with, while their perfect security is assured. The tubes are now made sufB.ciently large to contain water enough for four days. These trays can either be used separately, and the spikes carried in a sepa- rate box, or they can be run into a case, which holds the tray perfectly fast, so that railway porters may turn the box any way they like and the spikes will suffer no harm. The boxes are certainly formidable-looking, but they are not heavy, and D 34 THE GLADIOLTTS. even when railways are illiberal to exhibitors, they do not cost a great deal for carriage. I sent this year two cases of twelve each, about seventy miles, by passenger-train, and the cost was only seven shillings. They were simply unlocked, the trays drawn out and placed upon the exhibition table, and not a flower was out of its place. They were returned to me in the same way, and although the blooms had to a great extent faded, yet they were all in situ. Those who know the trouble of arrang- ing a stand of flowers on the exhibition day can appreciate the saving of worry this is, and once having tried this plan, I think exhibitors would prefer it to any other. In arranging the spikes for exhibition, it is best to place your finest blooms in the front rank ; the judges' eye catches them at first, and this often determines their position in the prize list. Care should be taken in the arrangement of colours; natural good taste will be a better guide in this matter than the most elaborate descriptions. Care will of course be taken that no two colours kill one another, and that light and dark flowers should EXHIBITION. 35 be evenly distributed in the stand, and not buddled together in any way. Sometimes exhibitors are tempted, because a flower is new, or a seedling of their own, to place it in a prominent position, but this is a mistake ; unless it be at the same time of good properties, judges wiU not be influenced (at least if they are good ones) by the novelty of a flower, and though to a raiser his geese are all swans, they are not so to any one else ; therefore let the real merit of a flower be the only ground on which it is admitted to a place in the stand, and especially to any prominent place. Having thus done all he can to obtain the coveted place of bonour on the prize list, it remains but for the exhibitor to rest contented with the decision of the judges. It may be sometimes different from what he anticipated, and, indeed, contrary to sound judging, but it is the fate of war; and no exhibition is more imseemly than that of a furious exhibitor, disappointed of his expectations, expatiating on his wrongs to all who come within reach of him. If he be successful, let him bear meekly "his blushing honours," for in the next tournament he may be unhorsed. ( 36 ) CHAPTER IV. THE DISEASE. The pleasure deriyed from tlie culture of this lovely autumn flower is to a great extent diminished by the uncertaiaty that rests on the harvesting of the bulbs, owing to a malady for which, as far as I can see, there is neither prevention nor cure, but which more or less has troubled, as far as I am aware, every, or nearly every, grower who has ventured on their cultivation. It is more virulent in some seasons than in others, and soil and situation may perhaps mitigate its ravages ; but like the great produce of my native county — hops, it is so un- certain that no one can predicate of the safety of his stock until the bulbs are securely housed. Some years ago the eminent London firm, of Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son obtained a very large and valu- THE DISEASE. 37 able collection from Prance, being determined to cultivate them very extensively; tbe bulbs were planted with considerable care, but nearly the whole of the collection was swept away. About ten years ago I planted in a piece of kitchen-garden ground of good quality three beds of about three hundred bulbs. They came up well, but I do not think I lifted half a dozen sound bulbs. My friend Mr. Banks, of Sholden Lodge, Deal, the most extensive amateur grower in England, continually loses large quantities of his bulbs. I saw his beds this year in October, and it was pitiable to see the gaps made in his best beds by the disease, although, as a general rule, it has not, I think, been so preva- lent this year as usual. Lord Hawke, who has ex- hibited the flower so well, says that his own home- saved bulbs have suffered very much, his imported ones not so much. Mr. Douglas did not think he had it, although many of his bulbs went off when they threw up their spike for bloom ; but when I went to his beds we found the first bulb lifted affected by it, although many that I should have pronounced, from the appearance of the foliage, to 38 THE GLADIOLUS. "be diseased, were not so ; wMle Mr. Lombard, who is or has been a large amateur grower in Dubliiiy has been compelled to give up his extensive cul- ture of them owiag to the same cause. Monsieur Souchet, par excellence the Gladiolus grower, with aU the advantages of soil and the fine climate of I^rance, is oftentimes greatly harassed by it. Thus, the testimony regarding its existence seems uni- versal. And now what is it ? what causes it ? and can it be remedied ? I have no theory to propound, and can only express my opinion that the reasons adduced for it are inadequate. The disease first attacks the corms in the form of small black spots, which gradually spread over the entire corm. Sometimes the layers of the corm are distinctly marked by the black liaes which indi- cate the presence of the disease in a virulent form, the foliage having previously exhibited a rusty un- healthy look. When the bulbs are lifted the disease rapidly accelerates its pace until the whole perish of a sort of dry rot, shrivelling up into a small compass. The causes of this decay have been stated to be — THE DISEASE. 39 1st. The high breeding of the flower, and the want of new blood. In answer to this, I would reply that I have seen it in a very virnlent form in Gladiolus Brench- leyensis and Eanny E-ouget, both raised many years ago, and considered generally to be amongst the hardiest flowers that we have ; while I, at any rate, have foimd such bulbs as Meyerbeer and Madame Furtado, both highly bred flowers, not so liable to it; and of the new varieties of 1871, Phoebus, a very highly bred flower, seems to be very vigorous. The same cause has been assigned for the Potato disease, but it is well known that tubers imported from Peru have been as virulently affected as any other. All highly bred flowers are more or less delicate, but then the extra care bestowed on them — as in the case of animals — compensates for this. The race horse may be more subject to disease than the cart horse, but then from the difference of treat- ment it receives, its life is quite as good as that of its hum.bler relative. 2nd. Too high cultivation. It has been said that the quantity of manure 40 TH^E GLADIOLUS. used seriously affects the bulbs and engenders dis- ease. If the manure were used fresh there might be some weight in this, but eyidence which has come before me disposes of this. Mr. Banks has tried experiments with his bulbs. He has planted them in beds without any manure whatever, others in beds with bone dust, others in fresh ground, and yet under all these circumstances the disease has appeared, and most violently of all in the unmanured beds. I have taken the trouble of excavating my beds, and laying the manure five or six inches lower than where the bulbs are planted, and yet the dis- ease has appeared ; while, strangest of all, I have seen over and over again two shoots proceeding from the same bulb, forming two fresh corms. One of these when taken up has been perfectly sound, the other wholly diseased. 3rd. Non-ripeniag of the bulbs. This reason is disposed of by the simple facts that the French bulbs are taken up long before they are matured, and that seedlings and small bulbs, which are always later in starting, can never be left till they are matured, many of them shew- THE DISEASE. 41 ing flower even at the end of October, and yet these small and late-flowering bulbs are not more sub- ject to the disease than others, 4th. Exhaustion of the bulbs. This is hardly worth noticing, but a writer in one of our gardening journals devoted two long papers to a consideration of the disease, and actually propounded this as the cause, believiag that, like the Hyacinth, the same bulb was lifted from year to year, instead of, as we know, the corm dying and fresh ones being produced; while the fact that seedlings that have never bloomed have been found affected by the malady is conclusive proof that exhaustion from flowering could have nothing to do with it. 5th. Too early planting. I have never heard this adduced until lately, when, talkiag over it with Mr. Barr, who has given a good deal of attention to this, and indeed to all bulbs, he said he had taken my advice about plant- ing in March, and that he lost a great portion of his bulbs ; but that a later planted bed, which he had planted according to instructions received from 42 THE GLADIOLUS. Messrs. Vilmorm, was comparatively free. But in answer to this I have only to say, that as he tells me he followed M. Souchet's time, he has suffered, as I have already stated, very considerably, moreover exhibitors could not trust to bulbs planted in May ; the warm dry Trench summers may bring them on rapidly, but there would not be sufficient time in our colder and damper climate. I am afraid that those who read this chapter wiU think that I belong to that numerous class of would-be philosophical (save the mark !) writers who are famous hands at pulling down, but build up nothing instead, for really I have nothing to propose. I consider it, as I have said, analogous to the Potato disease; and the analogy is no way disturbed by the fact that we know nothing at all about it, for surely the letters that have appeared in the public papers shew that we are as much at sea with regard both to the cause and remedy as we were when it first appeared. So with the Gladiolus disease. Growers may say this is cold comfort. "Well, it is. I wish I could give any better. I did try this year two of my beds with powdered charcoal, and I THE DISEASE. 43 tliink that they were less affected by disease than the third ; but then, I believe, others have tried it without any good results. Therefore, as there are drawbacks in every enjoyment — as the worm-i'-the- bud will destroy the bloom of the Rose, as the wire- worm will eat through our Carnations, and black spots destroy our Auriculas, so the grower of the Gladiolus must make up his mind to losses from a disease which he seems powerless to prevent or cure. I some little time back, submitted some bulbs of Gladiolus to our most eminent vegetable physio- logist, the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, who said it was a species of Tacon — a disease similar to that which attacks Crocus corms — and is described in the Sort. SoG. Transactions as a caries or ulceration of the corm, similar to that which takes place in the Potato. No cause is there assigned for it ; it is not fungus, although fungi come afterwards ; it is con- tagious. ( 44 ) CHAPTER V. CHARACTER OP A GOOD GLADIOLUS. Having spoken of the improvement tliat has taken place in the Gladiolus, it may be as well to define what I consider the form of a good Gladiolus to be, both with regard to the internal flower and the spike. The flower consists of six petals, arranged in threes, and in the proper disposition of these, their form and substance, we are to find the con- stituents of a fine flower. In the first place, the three upper petals ought to be larger than the three lower ones, the central one being somewhat hooded, but not so much so as to lean over too much. I think that these petals ought to be nearly as broad as long. 2nd. The three lower petals should be equally symmetrical, and the centre one, or lip, as it is generally called, should not be narrow or CHABACTBB OF A GOOD GLADIOLUS. 46 pointed, or smaller than the two side ones, a defect which, is to be noticed ia very many otherwise fine I am indebted to my friend Mr. Harrison Weir for the sketch here figured. 46 THE GliADIOLTJS. flowers. Semiramis is especially faulty in this respect; the petals ouglit to be as thick and leathery as possible, as the more substance they have, the longer will be the duration of the bloom, and the greater will be the intensity of colour. Phoebus, one of the last raised varieties sent out, is the best example of substance that I know. 3rd. The same rule with regard to colour holds good in the Gladiolus as in other florists' flowers ; when they are self-coloured, the colour ought to be clear and de- cided — white should be pure, and not splashed ; but this is difiicult to attain without shadiag ; reds and various shades of it, brilliant and clear; while in flowers which are flaked or striped, such markings ought to be clear and decided, and not blotchy, although I must remark that seasons will occasion a great diiference in this respect ; thus in the year just past (1872), I had not in my own garden, nor do I remember seeing elsewhere, a good bloom of one of the most constant flowers we have, Madame Furtado; as is the case with other flowers and with fruit also, individual varieties do better in some seasons than in others. Size is a point in which CHARACTEE, OF A GOOD GLADIOLUS. 47 the Gladiolus has wonderfully advanced, and where form and substance are combined with it, it is a great gain; individual blooms are now to be had five inches across, and there is no reason, seeing the advance already made, why we may not expect to see them even larger. The disposition of the spike is a very material point in a good Gladiolus. In the earlier varieties a great number of them came winged, that is, in the style of oppositiflorus ; and ingenious were the con- trivances adopted for the purpose of removing this defect ; nay, I have heard it argued that it was not a defect, especially when you wanted to cut them for bouquets ! however, this style of flower is now obsolete, and we are obtaining a race in which the flowers are completely facing. Perhaps one of the best examples we have of a good spike is Meyerbeer. In it the flowers regularly face the spectator, and a large number are open at once ; I have counted twelve expanded at the same time, giving it a grand appearance. There is no tolerating now-a-days a variety, however fine, which only opens three or four flowers at a time, for the grandeur of its appearance 48 THE GLADIOLUS. is entirely marred by sucIl partial opening. Some growers resort to the expedient of tying the lower blooms with, a piece of bass matting, so as to prevent them expanding until the upper blooms are opening. I have never tried the plan, but I hope and believe that we are getting varieties which will no more require this, than they do the " dodges " which were accustomed to be used for the purpose of bringing winged flowers to face. It is necessary, too, that the flowers be not far apart, but touch one another ; some otherwise good varieties are quite second-rate owing to this. A long spike is desirable, but not a bare pole, or flowers so far apart that the stem is largely seen between them. ( 49 ) OHAPTEE VI. CHOICE OP SORTS. In compiling the following lists, I have endeavoured to meet the wants of aU growers of the Gladiolus, and have confined myself exclusively to the French varieties. I have not that detailed knowledge of Mr. Kelway's seedlings which would enable me to select from his numerous progeny those which would he most suitable for the various purposes I have indicated, and I would therefore advise all who wish to grow his fine seedlings to place themselves in his hands. If any one desires to be an exhibitor, I would say, take the first list, select from it those marked with an asterisk, and order largely of them. This, I am sure, is a much better plan than growing a vast number of sorts and having a bulb or two of each, for then you may confidently look to having E 50 THE GLADIOLUS. at the time you want it a spike of a fine yariety which you deem to be a winning flower. With a dozen of roots of each of these, I would venture to have a winning stand at any time ; and then one is saved the trouble of labelling and keeping separate a large number of kinds. In the second list there are many which have been exhibited in winning stands, and possibly may in particular seasons come up to some of those in the first list, and where greater variety is desu'ed, they may be safely added to the first. The third list contains the names of sorts well suited for clumping or growing in mixed borders, or for any purpose of decoration. I have not included in these lists any of the new varieties of the present season, 1872-73, as I am anxious only to name those which I know from personal observation. I have taken the prices from Mr. Kelway's catalogue. LIST I. Flowers suitable for Exhibition. *Adolphe Broiyniart. Rose, slightly tinted orange, blazed with red, large white stains. CHOICE OF SORTS. 51 Antigone. Tender rose, very largely flamed carmine-red, white ground, very slightly tinted with rose or lilac, bordered and flamed light. ^Beatrix. Ground pure white, very delicately flamed lilac- carmine. Celimene. Light red-orange, largely flamed bright red. ^Delicatissima. White flowers, very slightly tinted and blazed light lilac-carminate, the inferior divisions pure white, bordered with carminate-lilac. Edith Dombrain. White ground, very largely blazed dark carmine-purple spots. "^Ev^ene Scribe. Light rose, blazed carmine-red. *Eurydice. Pure white, blazed bright carmine-rose. Horace. Fire red, large spots, pure white striated with red. *Horace Vernet. Red-purple, very bright, very large spots, pure white striated with red. James Veitch. Bright crimson-red, stained with violet. ^Jupiter. Ground light red, very largely flamed crimson, very dark. *Leffouve. Very bright red, white line in upper divisions, white stains in lower. *Madame Purtado. Very fine rose, shading off to a light carnation, very strongly flamed with deep rose- carmine. *Madame Desportes. Pure white, lower divisions slightly striated violet. Madame Dombrain. Long spike of large and perfect flowers, very elegantly arranged, violet-carmine, blazed bright ' purple, clearer in the centre. 52 THE GLADIOLTJS. * Marie Stuart. White, very slightly tinted rosy, blazed bright carminate cherry. *Meyerbeer. Brilliant red, flamed vermilion, spotted ama- ranth red. *Michel Ange. Dark crimson, brownish-purple on outer divisions, white stains, remarkable colour. Moliere. Red cherry, large stains pure white. Nestor. Light yellow, inferior divisions darker, striated with red. *Norma. Pure white, rarely and slightly blazed tender lilac. *Orphee. Rose, blazed carmine, centre very bright, very fine spots purple-carmine on the inferior divisions. *Phoebus. Fine red, very bright, very large spots pure white. Phidias. Bright purple, slightly tinted violet, very large spots pure white, finely striated cherry-carmine. Minerve. Very bright crimson, small carmine spots on a large white ground. *Primatrice. Fine rose, slightly tinted lilac, blazed bright carmine, spots carmine on white ground. Robert Fortune. Carmine-red, largely flamed crimson, red centre, lightly tinged violet, all the divisions lined pure white, bright plant. Rosa Bonheur. White, very slightly tinged lilac, flamed carmine-violet on inferior divisions, very large beautiful spots violet- carmine, very dark. Rosea Perfecta. Very fine rose-tinted violet, centre very bright, all the divisions lined pure white. *Schiller. Sulphur-yellow, very large stains carmine with red. CHOICE OP SORTS. 53 *Sir J. Franklin. Fine satin-rose, all the divisions lined white, the inferiors pure white. *Ulyssie. Fine rose. Virgile. Fiery bright red. *Prmcess Mary of Cambridge. White, very large stains light carmine. Virginalis. Pure white, bordered and flamed tender red. In the foregoing list I have selected those which "will come the nearest to meet the requirements of a good flower, and have marked with an asterisk those which are the most to be depended on by the exhibitor. The prices of these vary from 2«. Qd. to85. LIST II. Showy Flowers which a Grower, who is not an Ex- hibitor, MAY RELY UPON AS GIVING A FiNE BlOOM ; IN Price varying from Is. to 3s. Adanson. Hose, slightly tinted with lilac on superior and inferior divisions, large amaranth spots on white ground, tinted yellow, largely shaded carmine, tinted lilac. Antiope. Cherry oranged, spots carmine, very dark on large ground, pure white. Aramis. Eose, slightly tinted orange, bordered carmine- cherry, inferior divisions pure white, striated bright carmine. 54 THE GLADIOLUS. Armide. White, slightly tinted rose-carmiiie, with spots of the same colour on inferior divisions. Belle Gabrielle. Lilac-coloured rose, slightly blazed with bright rose. Charles Dickens. Light rose, tinted chamois, striped. Cherubini. White ground, largely blazed carmine-red. De Humboldt. Cherry red, tinted violet and blazed bright crimson, carmine spots on white ground. Docteur Lindly. Ground tender rose, blazed with carminate, cherry colour. Etendard. White, slightly blazed lilac or violet-bluish, very long spike. Fulton. Red vermilion velvet. Homere. Light amaranth, blazed bright purple. Lady Franklin. White, slightly tinted rose, striated with carmine, and blazed carminate rose. Le Poussin. Light red, white ground, very large stains on inferior divisions. Newton. Deep crimson, with white ground, striped white. Ophir. Deep yellow, purple spots. Princess Alice. Tender lilac, slightly tinted rose, very large white stains, new and fine colour. Reine Victoria. Pure white, stains carminate violet. Semiramis. Long spikes, rose-carminate, white ground, largely blazed bright carmine. Shakespeare. White, slightly blazed carmine-rose, large stains rose. Van Dyck. Amaranth-red, lined with white. CHOICE OF SORTS. 55 LIST III. A Few Cheap Showy Flowers for the Border. Achille. Cnrrant red, with white line in each division. Brenchleyensis. Vermilion-scarlet. Diane. Carnation colour, spotted white. Due de Malakoff. Red, striped with white and yellow. Elizabeth. Fine dark rose, heautifully flamed bright carmine- purple. Galilee. Carminate-cherry colour, blazed deep crimson. Greuze. Cherry-red, blazed purple, vigorous and splendid sort. Janire. Clear bright orange-red. Lord Raglan. Salmon-rose colour, with distinct stain ver- milion-red. Mac Mahon. Orange-coloured cherry-rose, with stain-like stripes on a light ground. Meteor. Very bright dark red, large, stains pure white. Milton. White, slightly tinted rose, largely blazed with red. Oracle. Very brilliant cherry-rose. Imperatrice Eugenie. Blazed with violetish-rose inside of the flower, and with lilac colour outside. Romulus. Brown-red, bright, very large spots pure white, and large white line on the lower division. Roi Leopold. Rose, slightly oranged and blazed, fine white stains. 56 THE GLADIOLirs. These will vary in price from 6d. to 2s. 6d., and will give an effective bloom and supply good spikes for cutting for decorative purposes. I have thus completed the task I undertook, and if I shall have by so doing been the means of inducing any one to venture on the culture of these beautiful flowers, I shall feel that I have not written in vain. FINIS. Advertisements. MR. LAXTON'S JEWEL. *r-M 7- > ^t»^ This is the most remarkable break iu coloured Doubles yet obtained, and is the first of the Tom Thumb race, having finely formed flowers. It has a very dwarf, short-jointed, and free-flowering habit, with nne deep scarlet trusses, each pip being very double, and so beautifully formed, as to give the ap- pearance of a miniature " Senateur vaisse" Rose. It is also admirably adapted for button-holes and bouquets. First-class Certificate of the Royal I Horticultural Society, and was exhi- bited in the winning stands of Cut Doubles at the Ifottingham and Bir- mingham Exhibitions of the Society in. 1871 and 1872. A Coloured Plate appeared in the , " Floral Magazine," by the Rev. H. H. Dombrain, tor H'ovember last. Plants in the Spring, 10s. 6d. eacli. AURORA. This is also a very fine dwarf-habited, bright scarlet, free flowering variety of a similar typo, but very distinct in appearance. Will prove a good bedder, and very showy for cultivation in pots. Plants in the Spring, 7s. each. E. J- LOWE. This variety is perhaps the most striking of any of the doubles, the petals incurving and having a whitish reverse. Trusses large and well formed. The pips well adapted for buttoa holes. It was much admired in the winning collection at the Royal Horticultural Society's Nottingham Exlubition in 1871. Plants In the Spring, 7s. each. The Set of Three Varieties Tirill be supplied for £1 ls» W. and J. BROWN, FLORISTS, &c., STAMFORD. Advertisements. GLADIOLI, NEW AND OLD, INCLUDING THE NEW VARIETIES OF 1872-3, Adapted for Exhibition or Borders. ASHFORD, KENT, AND AT MAIDSTONE. Price Lists on Application. Established 1796. KELWAY & SON'S WHOLESALE AND RETAIL CATALOGUE OF ; IS NOW READY, WITH FULL DESCRIPTION OP 700 OP THE BEST VARIETIES IN COMMERCE, WITH NOTES ON THEIR CULTURE. FREE BY POST. THE EOYAL NURSERES, LANGPO.RT, SOMERSET. Advertisements. FRENCH HYBRID GLADIOLI (IMPOKTED BULBS). DRUMMOND BROTHERS (Sons of Mr. Peter Driimmond, of Stirling, N.B.) Respectfully invite attention to the following Special Offebs : Plfje "^^illa" Collection OF IN 25 FINE NAMED VARIETIES, 12/6. LARGER COLLECTIONS. SO in 25 Fine Named Varieties .... 25/ 50 „ 50 „ „ .... 30/ 100 „ 50 „ „ .... 60/ 100 „ 100 „ „ 110/ to 150/ Carriage paid to any Bailway Station in Great Britain. No Charge nuidefor Packing any of the above Special Collections. Descriptive Priced List of French Hybrid Gladioli, Koses, <^c., may he 7iad j?ost free on application. DRUMMOND BROTHERS, Seedsmen, Murserymen, and Florists, 52 GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH. Advertisements. CARRIAGE FREE. -NEW AND GENUINE SEEDS. B. S. WILLIAMS 3!i!gs to announce that his DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OP FLOWER, VEGETABLE, AND AGRICULTURAL SEEDS FOR 1873, containing many New and Choice FLOWEB AND YEGETABLB SEEDS, iB now ready, post free to all applicants. Yictoria and Paradise Nursersies, Upper HoUoway, JLONDOlSr. N. PATENT ORCHARD HOUSES, PLANT HOUSES, PLANT PROTECTORS, AND GROUND VINERIES. A New CATALOGUE just published, containing Fifty Illustrationa, can be had on application to the Inventor and Patentee^ MR. WM. EDGCUMBE RENDLE, 3 WESTMINSTER CHAMBERS, VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, S.W, dWajeStg'd ^^^MmM saosal 2-etterS patent. THE ACME GARDEN FRAME & GROUND VINERY. The most complete and effective, as well as the cheapest, combination of EARTHEHTWARE AND GLASS yet brought before the public. In this arrangemsnt there is perfect ventilation, which is easily regulated, and at the same time the strongest possible portable structure is formed. Particulars and Prices of this invaluable Horticultural Novelty forwarded post free oii application. LOOKER'S PATENT PLANT COVERS. From 6s. per dozen. BENJAMIN LOOKEK, INVENTOR, PATENTEE, & SOLE IliIANUrACTUItEE, Advertisements. fl41Iil' Mr. WILLIAM BULL Begs to intimate that he is now sending out for the Jirst time "GLADIOLUS PURPUREO-AURATUSr It has been imported from Natal ; the flowers are pale golden-yellow, with a large purple blotch, which is broader at the apex, on the disk of each of the two lower segments. Spikes nearly a foot in length, and giving ten to fifteen flowers each. This remarkable and distinct species was figured in the " Botanical Magazine," January, 187a. Price los. 6d. each. ESTABLISHMENT FOR NEW & RARE PLANTS, King's Road, Chelsea, London, S.W. DOWNIE, LAIRD, & LAING Haye a splendid stock of the following to ofEer, in the finest possible condition, and at rery moderate prices (Descriptive Lists free) : VINES. In all the best sorts, extra strong and short-jointed. PIGS. In all the best new and old varieties, true to name. ROSES. standard and Dwarf, of all the leading varieties. By the dozen, 100, or 1,000. FRUIT TREES. Standard and Pyramid, aU with fruit buds, PHLOXES. All the finest new and old varieties. PANSIES. show, Fancy, and Bedding, the best varieties only. A choice Selection of the best & newest Stove & Greenhouse Plants. STAMSTEAD PARK & RUTLAND PARK, LONDON, S.E,, & EDINBURGH. Advertisements. WORKS ON BOTANY. THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S HANDYBOOKS. By the Rev. H. P. Dunster, M.A. "Wood Engravings. 1. Botany. 2. Recreative Science. Eacll 3s. %d. DOMESTIC BOTANY ; An Exposition of the Structure and Classification of Plants, and of their uses for Food, Clothing, Medicine, and Manufacturing Purposes. By J. Smith, A.L.S. 16 Coloured Plates, 16s. BRITISH WILD FLOWERS, FAIMILIARLY DESCRIBED IN THE FOUR SEASONS. By Thomas Moose, F.I.S. 24 Coloured Plates, 16s. HANDBOOK OF THE BRITISH FLORA. By G. Bentham, F.R.S. New Edition, 12s. THE ILLUSTRATED BRITISH FLORA. By G. Bentham, F.R.S. 2 vols., 1296 Wood Engravings, £3 10s. BRITISH FERNS. With Chapters on the Structure, Propagation, Cultivation, Dis- eases, Uses, Preservation, and Distribution of Ferns. By M. Pl.t7ES. 16 Coloured Plates and 55 "Wood Engravings, 10s. 6cZ. THE BRITISH FERNS. By Sir W. J. Hooker, F.R.S. 66 Coloured Plates, £2 2s. GARDEN FERNS; A Selection of Exotic Forms. By Sir W. J. Hooker, F.R.S. 64 Coloured Plates, £2 2s. FILICES EXOTICyE ; Figures and Description of Exotic Ferns. By Sir W. J. HooKEE, F.E.S. Koyal 4to, 100 Coloured Plates, £6 lis. BRITISH GRASSES. By M. Plues. i6 Coloured Plates and loo Wood En- graTings, \Qs. Qd. BRITISH SEAWEEDS. By S. O. Gray. i6 Coloured Plates, los. 6d. A CENTURY OF ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS. By James Bateman, Esq., F.E.S. Complete in One "Vol. royal 4to, 100 Coloured Plates, £5 5s. MONOGRAPH OF ODONTOGLOSSUM. By James Bateman, Esq., F.R.S. Imperial foUo, Parts I. to I"V., each with 5 Coloured Plates, 21s. Parts "V. and "YI. nearly ready. THE RHODODENDRONS OF SIKKIM-HIMALAYA. By Dr. J. D. and Sir W. J. HooKEE, F.E.S. Folio, 30 Coloured Plates, £4 14s. ed. L. REEVE and CO., 6 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. Patent Multum-in-Parvo Water Tube Cut Flower Exhibition Stands for Amateurs, "Which have been pronounced by the KOTAL HOETIOULTUEAL SOCIETY the best now in use, and awarded their SIL"\TEE MEDAL. Amateurs can now be supplied with sets of Exhibition Show Trays, all highly varnished, consisting of one for 12 Dahlia blooms, one for 12 Eoses, one for 12 Verbenas, &c., &c. ; one for 6 Gladiolus spikes ; one for 12 Pansies, Picottees, or button-hole bouquets ; one for a "Wedding or Ball bouquet ; one for a brace of Cucumbers ; and one for two bunches of Grapes. The whole set complete for £7 10a. nett cash. Post-office Orders from unknown correspondents will have immediate attention. ALL COMMUNICATIONS (AND rOE PEICE LISTS) TO EE ADHEESSED TO W. r. CHAPMAN, BRISTOL KOAD, GLOUCESTER. Advertisements. New Series, enlarged to Eoyal 4to, THE FLOEAL MAGAZINE. Pigures and Descriptions of the choicest New Flowers, for the Garden, Stove, or Conservatory. By the Eev. H. Hontwood Dombeain. Monthly, with Pour richly Coloured Plates, Ss. Gd. Annual Subscription, 42*. Vol. I. of the New Series, in elegant cloth case, gilt edges, 42*. Elegant CLOTH Cases for binding, gilt and black-blocked from special designs, 2s. Qd. each. L. Eeevb and Co., 5 Henrietta Street, Coveut Garden. THE BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. Third Series. Pigures and Descriptions of New and Bare Plants, of Botanical interest, and suitable for the Garden, Stove, or Conservatory. By Dr. J. D. Hooker, C.B., P.E.S. Monthly, with Six beautifully Coloured Plates, 3*. 6d. Annual Subscription, 42s. L. Eeeve and Co., 5 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. FLORAL PLATES," Eiohly coloured, 6d. each, octavo size. Is. each, (juarto size. Lists of over 500 varieties. One Stamp. These beautiful plates, besides supplying Plorists with the finest Portraits of Plowers produced, are extensively used for Screens and other Decorative pur- poses. Scrap Books, Studies for Plower Painting, "Wax Plower Modelling, etc. L. Eebtb and Co., 5 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. Just pubUshed, with plates, coloured, 10s. Gd., HARVESTING ANTS & TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS. Notes and Observations on their Habits and Dwellings. By J. T. Moo&eidgb, P.L.S. L. Eebve and Co., 5 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. Advertisements. BARR & SUGDE N, 12 King Street, Coven t Garden, Descriptive Priced Catalogue of Gladioli. The GLADIOLI classed in colours for assistin g Amateurs to make their own selections. GLADIOLI. The French Varieties of Gandavensis, mostly Souchet's raising. BARR & SUGDEN'S Selection. 500 in 25 fine named varieties 250 in 25 „ „ 100 in 25 „ ,, 5° in 25 25 in 25 12 in 12 ,, £ s. d. 100 in 100 splendid named varieties 63/ to 10 10 o 50 in 50 „ „ 25/ to s s o 25 in 25 „ „ 10/6 to 2 10 o 12 in 12 „ „ s/6 to I 10 o Fine mixed 12/6 per 100, 2/ per dozen. Splendid mixed 21/ per loo, 3/ per dozen. Per 100. Perdoz. Fine mixed vfhites, purples, and mottles, etc., from Division 4 and 5 21/ .... 3/ Splendid mixed ,, ,, 30/ .... 4/6 Fine mixed from the three foregoing 2i/ 3/ Splendid mixed from the three foregoing 30/ .... 4/6 Mixed Gladioli from the Specific Colours, as above. The GLADIOLI Catalogue is arranged in Six Divisions, thus : Division I.— The Crimson, Crimsou-SarW, Cerise, Carmine, and the darker shades of Red. Dirision II. — The Eose-Salmon, Kose-Vermilion, and lighter shades of Red. '.Division III. — The Eose, Salmon-shaded, and other delicate shades of Red. Division IV.— The Purple, Puce, Carmine, lilac, Pnrple lottled, and Enhy Roses. Division V.— The Whites. Division VI.— The Yellows. GLADIOLI, VARIETIES OF RAMOSUS. These may le planted, and left ire their blooming situations for many years uiilliout heing disturied. Per 100. Perdoz. Fine mixed scarlets, crim- sons, etc., from Divi- sion I Splendid mixed ,, Fine mixed roses, etc., from Division 2 and 3 . . Splendid mixed ,, 2r/ 30/ 21/ 3/ 4/6 3/ 30/ .... 4/6 £ I d. „ s. 100 in 35 splendid varieties. . 150 5° in 25 „ „ .. o 14 o 25 in 25 „ „ ..076 Fine mixed seedlings of Ramosus i2j. 6d. Splendid mixed Seedlings of ditto 250 in lo splendid varieties. 100 in 10 „ ,, 5° in 10 „ „ per JOG 2s. 2 1 jr. od. Beautiful mixed Seedlings from Guernsey ..lis. od. £ o. d. 220 • o 15 o .086 od. per doz. od. „ od. „ BARR & SUGDEN, 12 King Street, Covent Garden. SEEDSMEN TO THE QUEEN SUTTON'S Carefully selected from the ColleotJonB of MessieoTB Sonohet, Verdler, and other eminent Growers. SEEDSMEN TO H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. H -sa H S> Moo H < o° * "^ „ H 3" I S .1 o ; : > jlj : : 13 O J • I ss .a.s SUTTON'S CHOICE NAMED GLADIOLUS. SUTTON'S AMATEUR'S GUIDE for 1873 is Now Ready. This is the most practical work on Flower and £itchen Gardening yet published. Ulnstrated with 115 EngraTinge of choice Vegetables, Flowers, Potatoes, &c., and contains some valaable hints on the Formation and ImproTement of Garden Lawns, Cricket and Croquet Grounds ; with Descrip- tive List of the best Vegetables and Flowers. This Catalogue was presented to, and most gracionslj] accepted by. Her Host Gracious Majesty the Queen and their Boyal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Widea in 1872. Price la. Gratis to Customers. SUTTON'S SHOUT SELECT SEED LIST, with Columns for Ordering. Gratis, and post free. All Goods Carriage Free except very small JPcurcels. SUTTOlSr & SONS, Seedsmen by Appointment to the (laeen and the Prince of Wales, ROYAL BERKS SEED ESTABLISHMENT, READING. STRONG GLADIOLI ROOTS OFPBEBD BT JAMES CARTER &. Co. NAMED GLADIOLUS. Fer doB. — «. d. Adonis, yellow and carmine ,., 3 6 Archizn^e> ^ed, carmine-striped 3 6 Aiiatotet carntUwrif rose^ar 3 6 BovnenaiB, light vermilion-ecarlet 3 6 BrencUe^^enBis, ^r^-4car2e<, splendid 2 Gourantii fulgens, o'imson 2 Don Jiiuin, orange^ed, yellow spot*..... 2 6 Smma, carmine, akmed:. 3 Fanny Boaget, rose, white-f and carmine ... 2 6 Per doz.— *, d, Gil Bias, rosy red, erimaon-ahaded 6 6 Janaire, orange-red ;„.. 4 6 3eBmx&^'Axo, white, iinied row 6 C Madame Goudi^re, carmine, 5 Aod^ .„ S 6 Madune H6ruieq, yeUow, lUitCfOnd earmina S 6 Monsienr Blouet, rosy carmine 2 6 Monsieur 0eorgeon, aaXmon-^ose \ f. ..36 VaXXoi, carmine itrvi orange .,. ,.. 6 6 Surprise, esrimaon, purple centre 3 6 CARTER'S COLLECTIONS OF GLADIOLUS. 12 of each of the above 18 aortt, G6<. ; So/ each of the above 18 sorts, Ws. 6d. ; 3 of each of the above 18 aorts^ 15ff. 6d. 12 eachj 9 varieties (our own seleetion), 20«.; 6 eachj 9 varietiea {ov,r own selection), 11a.; 3 each, 9 varieties {our own selection), 6a. Thirty Splendid Named VarietieS| recommended by D. DEAIi| price from Is. 6d. to 7a. 6d. eacb. 12 good named sorts, our own selection , 12 do. do. do, 12 very fine named sorts do, 12 do. do. do. 8. d. 6 6 7 6 9 10 6 12 extra, named sortSjOnr own selection... 12 12 do. do. do, ... 16 12 finest, named do. do. ... 21 MIXED GLAPIOLUS. FiiTB Mixxn per 100, 12j. M. ; per doi., S». ExTBA Osoioi MiXBD perl00,21».j ii«rdoi.,39. For full particulars see CARTER'S ILLUSTRATED VADE MECUM FOR 1873j Post free Is., gratis to Purchasers. JAMES CARTER & CO., (Seedsmen to H'll. the Queen & H.E,H. the Prince of Wales), SS*? & 338 HIGH HOLBOliN, LONDON. \ 5*> ■■■' ■'