106 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



IMPROVEMENT OF THE GLADIOLUS. 



[A paper read by H. H. Groff of Simcoe, Ont., at the annual meeting of the 

 Ontario Fruitgrowers' Association, in Woodstock, Dec. 11 to 14, 1S9G, and read at 

 the Hart meeting by Mr. Eice.] 



In an article published during the present year by one of the leading 

 horticultural journals of America, the statement was made that "There 

 had been no improvement in the gladiolus during the past ten years." 

 It will be of interest to consider the general condition of this popular 

 flower at that time, after it had been before the ijublic some forty 

 years, and since then, during which all of the new" strains have been 

 introduced. 



Before going more fully into the question, I beg to advance the claim 

 that there has been more improvement during the past five years than 

 during the w^hole preceding period of its history. 



The gladiolus of ten years ago descended from a cross between two 

 Cape species, and is known as the hybrids of the Gandavensis, the sec- 

 tion in general cultivation. For many years the varieties orig-inating 

 from this cross have been inbred without careful selection, which has 

 resulted in one of the most variable plants known to the hybridizer. In 

 fact, this condition is made ground for the claim that there is no advan- 

 tage to be gained by hand pollenizing, as the leading varieties of com- 

 merce are the outcome of natural fertilization. 



The extent to which this indiscriminate seed-raising has been con- 

 ducted may be better understood when it is known that commercial 

 seedlings are often grown from seed that can be bought for a few shil- 

 lings per pound. Such seed can hardly be produced from valuable 

 varieties, for the process of seed-raising is most exhausting to plant 

 life, and so apparent is its effect on the degenerated vitality of the 

 hybrids of Gandavensis, that if they survive the effort, it can not gener- 

 ally be repeated without an intervening season of rest. 



Now, to admit this sweeping assertion is to concede that the work 

 done during a comparatively recent period, the first results of which 

 were introduced about five years ago, has indicated no advance on the 

 line of improvement, and that the time of Kelway, Souchet, Lemoine, 

 and others has been wasted, in their efforts to increase the beauty and 

 strength of the subject of this paper. 



It will here be in order to consider the meaning of the term improve- 

 ment as applied to the gladiolus; and I take the practical and popular 

 ground that it should mean, first, the beauty of the individual flower; 

 second, strength and vitality of the plant; and third, arrangement. 



During the past season, many visitors to my trial grounds, containing 

 some 1,000 named varieties, would stop before a hybrid of distinct merit. 

 The plant and straight spike stood six feet high, bearing a few open 

 flowers rivaling the orchid in richness and beauty. Without exception 

 it was pronounced the gem of the collection, thus proving the first prin- 

 ciples of improvement. 



