| In the Florist and Pomologist for May, 1863,
there appeared from me an artcle on the raising
of the Gladiolus from seeds. I have now a good
proportion of the seedling plants coming into
flower, and they are quite as good in shape and
coulour as the best of the french seedlings. A
few I have marked for growing in pots next year,
for showing as new seedlings at some fo the
exhibtions in the autumn. They are novel in
colour and the shape excellent, being raised from
the very best of the Gandavensis section, such as
Bertha Rabourdin, Madame Binder, Comte De Morny,
Napoleon III., Princess Clotilde, El Dorado, Duc
de Malakoof, Rembrandt, and Velleda.
The seeds were only sown in March, 1862, so
that it only requires two or three years to have
flowering-bulbs of Gladiolus when raised from
seeds.
The Cardinalis section flowers the earliest,
and are very beautiful but rather deficient in
shape. I have, therefore, crossed Cardinalis with
some of the white varieties of Gandavensis and
hope to have an improved strain at the expense of
flowering a little later.
I have not found the disease so prevalent last
year amongst Gladiolus appearing this year either
amongst my seedlings or the named sorts. It may,
therefore, arise from defects in their
cultivation, or in particular seasons.
Now, that it is found that the Gladiolus seeds
so freely, and that it only takes two or three
years to see them in flower, there is a chance of
having immense quantities of these gorgeous
plants in masses on pleasure grounds in the
autumn.
The soil of Rododendron-beds just suits them,
and I am convinced when mixed with Hollyhocks,
Dahlias, and Phloxes an effect may be produced in
backgrounds that has never yet been seen or even
imagined.
Wm. Tillery
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