GARDEN NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 8 December 1926, Page 6

GARDEN NOTES.

Gladiolus. » It is almost beyond comprehension to realise .that the gladiolus we have today, so wonderfully beautiful in purity of’ colouring and form, are even related to the flowers seen in the childhood ,lavs of the adult population of to-day. Manv know it as the sword lily, this name probably gave rise to the fact that the meaning of gladiolus is’, ready armed; of a truth, one is “ready armed" when exhibiting a bunch of these flowers at the Masterton Horticultural Bocietv’s show, and with other competitors ’carrying on the sure to note, IVI.M. The show itself proves that it is no exception to the rule, that the wonderful array of flowers create much enthusiasm, and nmny people who attend are encouraged to carry on the areat task that the society works so hard to attain, pride in 3lasterton. Gladiolus are easily grown from seed, and one has only to wait a comparatively short time, considering the reward at the end of the period of waiting, when at the end of the second year the seedlings commence to blopm, and stack an array of colours greet one. Almost every plant will throw a different coloured flower; of course, you will get good, bad and indifferent, but that always comes with almost everything, and it is quite an easy matter to discard the tares from the wheat, so to speak. These handstome flowers require generous treatment and delight in a moist situation. In hot climates they are best planted in the autumn ('Or spring flowering, or if the conns are keeping well they will do even better if planted late in summer for autumn flowering. llu_\ like a rich, well-drained soil, and a mulching of well-rotted manure keeps the ground cool and moist. This treatment ensures a pnsitve result. It is a case of love's labour not being lost, The great aim of all good gardeners is to produce something to be proud oi, and it has taken the space of eighty years to produce the wonderful gladiolus we have to-day, and now we have hundreds of gorgeously coloured varieties, that have evolved from some of the finest South African species. The aim of breeders seems to point to the production of large, open, fine petalled. flowers, seifs, that is to say, puritc of any one colour, be it red, white, pink, scarlet, yellow, blue; large sums’ are paid for novelties conforming to these conditions, and it follows that the best gladiolus are those that are of similar description. Herewith follows a list of a few of many fine flowers, with the names of each, it is 1 hard to single out any particular varieties, but the choice has been picked out at random and will suffice as an illustration. H Tile da\ begins with “Dawn,” the most beautiful salmon pink gladiolus ever offered; a long, graceful spike of magnificentlyformed flowers all open at' a time. Next comes “Golden Measure,” as its* name implies is a vollow and beautiful veilformed flower and a free and most robust strong grower. “ Insurpassable ” received an award of merit at Ilaai--Icm in 1917, and all who love flowers have sufficient guarantee from ( the name that it is difficult to surpass in beauty. The nearest relation in colour is the rose, “Caroline Tcstout,” and almost all rose growers know her, and those who don’t should make, her acquaintance, for she is a picture of loveliness. There is’ a gladiolus, “Loveliness” and it is a magnificent exhibition flower with beautiful creamy yellow and pink shaded buds, everybody should grow it. Highly recommended is “Niagara,” it has large creamy white flowers on tall stems and is a very strong grower. “Orange King” is J pure orange, with large, well-opened flowers of great substance, which open very early and free and usually has two flower spikes on the bulb. Tulip growers who are familiar with the wellknown Darwin Tulip, known by the name of 3lrs Potter Palmer, would welcome her companion in colour which matches that tulip in a gladiolus of the same name. “'Mrs Potter Palmer” is never without admirers’, it is really her colour, which is fascinating, that marvellous shades of deep purple violet, a colour in flowers which seems to cast a spell over one. It seems-to go beyond the depths of the deep blue sky. We come at the last to the “Maiden’S Blush,” and conclude with a “Golden Drop.” “Maiden’s Blush” is a beautiful delicate pink shaded salmon, the stems arc tall and slender, so many can be put in a vas J e. Seldom are we able to do so with gladiolus. From one and a-half to two per bulb are produced and she blooms most freely. “Golden Drop” has beautiful large drboping yellow flowers of great beauty and size, and is a verv free 'flowering yellow Primulas. “KENNEDIA.”