As a background or center to the flower border or bed, the various gladioli must not be forgotten, as they add a special enrichment to our gardens often when there is a dearth of other flowers. In preparing the ground for them, it can hardly be dug too deep or made too rich with well-rotted animal manure. An excess or scarcity of water is opposed to their wants, and a deep, well-drained, strong loam is the best; but if a choice must be made between a position liable to be too dry or one liable to an excess of water, the dry one is best; because liberal watering can be given, and manure watering once a week is especially valuable to them. When planting, select the strongest bulbs for the most prominent positions, and after carefully rubbing off every small offset at the base, divide and set them singly, and at a uniform depth in the ground, and equal distance apart from each other. The inferior bulbs and small offsets should be placed in some retired portion of the grounds, or in pots in the reserve garden, as many of the small bulbs will bloom freely, but would not keep character and proportion with the best.