Sword Lily

Sword Lily (Gladiolus) - Beautiful bulbous plants, the best kinds natives of S. Africa. Every species introduced is of value, is easily grown, and is suitable for many garden uses, but the charm of the Gladiolus is derived from the beautiful hybrid varieties. G. gandavensis and brench-leyensis are the principal kinds from which these hybrids come, and are by far the most important class. The gandavensis section suffers from cold autumn rains, and the bulbs must be lifted in autumn.

They are happy in clumps between Dahlias, Phloxes, Roses, and subjects of a somewhat similar character, and are very effective in clumps alternating with Tritomas, and also when associated with masses of Cannas; while they are suitable for intermixing with American plants whose dark foliage shows off rich flowers to good advantage. The position should be marked out and prepared in the autumn or winter. March and April are the best months for planting Gladioli; they are then at their best during August and the early part of September. A succession of planting is desirable to secure a late bloom. Those who desire their gardens to be beautiful late in the autumn should not fail to employ the Gladiolus largely. A deep loamy soil, not too heavy, is the most suitable, but very satisfactory results may even be obtained by deep digging and liberal manuring in poor soils. After the manure is spread over the surface, trench the soil up to a depth of 2 feet, and leave the ground as rough as possible, so as to expose it to winter frost and rain. If this is done the soil will be fit for working in spring, and a pricking over with the fork will reduce it to a fine tilth, and will admit of the bulbs being planted promptly. Planting in March and until June, at intervals of a fortnight. By this there will be obtained a succession of bloom, from the earliest moment at which the show varieties may be had in flower until the end of the season. As soon as the plants have made sufficient progress to require support, stout stakes should be put to them. The top of the stake must not be higher than the first bloom, and the stem should have one tie only—a strong one of bast.

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