This a mere compliance with custom to label this flower Gladiolus gandavensis, for that is the name of an early hybrid between G. cardinalis and G. psittacinus, raised many years ago in a Belgian garden. But it is searcely worth while to discuss technicalities or draw fine lines, and we prefer to talk about the gladiolus as a beauty to be wooed in the pleasant days of the after-summer.

The florist's varieties constitute a large and separate class, and are usually designated "hybrids of gandavensis," although they owe their origin to several species and to many and repeated crossings. To grow these well requires some care; but they are worthy of all attention, so various and splendid are their flowers. In the first place, then, it must be said that they are not hardy, and therefore it will not do to leave them in the ground all the winter. We have various unpleasant ways. Therefore, when there comes over the plantation a certain amount of yellowness, and the leaves look as if they would die if they could, and are only prevented by reason of the "growing weather," hesitate no longer, but lift them, and lay them in lots of a sort in a dry shed, with as much earth about them as adheres naturally, and in the course of a week afterwards clean them by removing leaves and roots, and store in sand.

It is a delightful task to raise gladioli from seeds. To obtain the seeds is an easy matter, but artificial fertilisation should be practised to render the work complete. Sow the seed in spring in shallow pans, which should be placed in a moderate heat. When the grass appears, give air cautiously; and when the season is sufficiently advanced, place them out of doors, and let them finish the first season's growth in the seed-pans. Put these away untouched in a dry place for the winter. In the month of March following sift the soil and separate the corms, and plant these in pans, and treat them as described above for the flowering corms. At the end of May plant them out.