Gardening Notes

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 4, 19 June 1930, Page 9

Gardening Notes

THE GLADIOLUS.

As most growers are aware, the Gladiolus takes its name from the Latin "Gladkis," a sword, and wassgiven to this plant on account of the sword-like shape of its foliage. Up-wards of one hundred distinct*species have been found in Africa, Central and Southern Europe, Persia, and the country around t-he eastern end of the Mediterranean, and, after many years of. study and. 'experimenting, they have been hybridised and crossed to such an extent as to defy the ordinary grower to say what blood may have entered into any given variety, nor does !he cara He is '-'satisfied to know that it is one of the most beautiful of our summer and autumn flowers, and, being so easily grown, he leaves the subject' of its most distinct and complex past to others with a more pronounced taste for ancient botanicaii history, a subject upon which many authorities differ.

To Belgium is given the honour of being the native country of the wellknown Gandavens type, which is said to have been introduced by Van Houtte in 184:6.

The Lemoinei type was brought out by M. Lemoine, of Nancy, France, to •whom we are also indebted for the wellknown Nareienus, the ""distinction between the two being that, while the latter is a tail, vigoTou's growing variety, with wide, woll-opened petals, mottled or finely pencilled-in-various shades, the former has a slender, graceful spike of heavily blotched flowers, the blotches usually being of a much darker colour than the petals and having a distinct, velvety appearance.

Qhildsii was originated by Mr. iLeielhitlin, and was eventually bought by J. L: Childs after many years had »been spent in improving it. It is very similar in appearance, to Nan-eienus, but the constitution of the petals lacks the robustness of the latter.

L To M. Lemoine must be given the

efedit of having, made great efforts to raise.■•"a genuine blue Gladiolus, and though not entirely successful so far, we all thope that lie has laid the foundations of what should prove to 'be a most entrancing flower.

Primulinus is a variety of recent introduction, being brought out, I beJieve, by J. M. Thorburn and <30., of New; York,- its natural colour being yellow, and, moreover, being very consistent and not liable to sport. It should later prove to be one. of the. pa-rents of a much looked for variety— "a good yellow."

Brenchleyensis is one of the older types, and lias not found much.-favour in recent years, although it generally .throws -up splendid spikes of intense vivid red flowers.

A new race-of G-ladioli, which should' have a splendid future, are called the Langprim Hybrids, one of the parents of which was brought from the rain forest near Victoria Falls, Central Africa, and by crossing with varieties of Kelwayi Gandavenis have produced graceful and most beautiful specimens. T!he originators are Kelway and Sons, of England. \

i The Gladioli can. be grown from bulbs, bulbets and seed, but as the amateur will wish mainly to produce flowers, I will -leave the cultivation of bulblets and seeds alone and deal with the bulb itself, Being a sun loving plant it can be planted at" any time between the (beginning of August and the latter part of February, and, providing that t-he soil has been well worked and manured previously, they will thrive and give general satisfaction, with very little attention other than an occasional shallowr ■hoeing and--a liberal watering.. They.. should be planted ajbout; four inches deep, and should never conic in contact with fresh manure, otherwise-'the result will be fatal alike to the bulb and the grower's anticipations.

I make it a rule to prepare the ground for next year Js planting, while this year's buOlbs are blooming, and lhave had very little trouble with scab. They should be planted in a sunny spot, sheltered from, strong winds, and as soon as the spike begins to appear it should be tied tip firmly With raffia to a stake driven well into the ground; an occasional watering with weak liquid manure is-■'■very beneficial now. Should t&e_ flowers be required for inside^ decoration they should be cut after the first couple of flowers have opened and placed in

water, wihcre they will last a week or more, every bud opening to its fullest extent. From three to five weeks after flowering the bulbs should be lifted and tied up in a cool, draughty place, to ■thoroughly dry of£ any" moisture remaining, after which they can be cleaned and put away until next season. Never let youT bulbs go to seed (unless specially required), otherwise the bulb will suffer and deteriorate, for the sap that should go to swell and strengthen the •bulb is drawn up the stem to nurture the seeds.

Two things the amateur must bear'in mind arc —plenty of old manure in the .ground and plenty of waters during dry (weather. Given these essentials, the grower will be rewarded by having, a coilleetion of flowerß which should be both a pride to himself and a pleasure to his. friends. Gladioli are liable to be attacked by soft. rot, ihard rot and; scab; for the two former there is unfortunately, no, known cure, biit can be checked by'dipping the bul^ for aibout 15 minutes in a solution of Formalin, J pint to 12 gallons of w.ater. Scab is brought on by a variety of causes, the principal being freshly •manured ground, and through the plants 'being broken by the wind, etc,. Should the latter be the case, the bulb should immediately be lifted (even if only •half 'grown), placed in the above solution, dried, and put away till nefxt planting time.

.In the foregoing article I have endeavoured to make my meaning as plain as possible, 'leaving out all technical pfliiases, etc., and tihou'gh. the skilled grower may find fault, I have constantly borne in mind that I am. addressing amateurs in the strictest sense, and hope that they will benefit thereby. The varieties which I found to do the best Witfto me dast season were, including Jos. Hulot, which I think is still the best- blue:—Pinks: America, Loveliness, Panama, Kate, Pink Duchess, Orbiwn Jewell. Beds: Eleetra,.. Mrs. Francis King, Princips, Principine, Red Emperor, Alsace-Lorraine. Dark Reds: Attraction, Empress of India, Faust, Deborah. Yellows: Eldorado, Golden West Kdondyke, Niagara, VictoTy, Marie Studholm. Whites: Albion, Chicago White, Europe, Glory Holland, Duchess of Somerset. Heliotrope: Badenia, Orchdd^ Lady Young. Blues: La Nuit, Blue Jay. Salmon: Halley, Aiberti, Lutetia, Velocity, Tigridia.