:8 >iARCH, 1907.] 



Garden Xotes. 



lyt 



GARDEN NOTES. 



/. Croiini. Jiispccior Vcgctatioit Diseases Acts. 



The Gladiolus. 



Gladiolus is a yenus of bulbous rooting, perennial jjlants, chiefly found 

 native in South Africa. Some few species have been disco\-ered iii South 

 and East Europe and West Asia, but the majoritv, and the most important, 

 are natives of Cape of Good Hope. The original species are rarelv found 

 .growing in gardens, except in botanical collections. ha\-ing been superseded 

 by hybrid varieties of superior character as ornamental plants. During 

 the last 50 years hybridizers in various parts of Europe, and latterlv in 

 England and America, haw i)aid special attention to the gladiolus, and 



GLADIOLUS : KELWAY HYBRID TYPES. 



have produced varieties of a greater diversitv of colour in the flowers, larger 

 individual and finer marked flowers, and more robust and larger spikes. 

 There are se\'eral recognised types, noted for some distinctive marking or 

 characteristic, among the most important being the early flowering section, 

 a hardy type that will endure severe frost ; Lemoinei, red and \ el low 

 varieties with a large, purplish blotch on the lower segments, of the flowers; 

 Childsii, an American raised type, Avith flowers of great size and bright 

 colour ; and Kelwayi. an English strain producing large spikes, of finelv 

 coloured flowers. Many of the finer new varieties are raised from Gan- 

 davensis and Xanrieanus. both hvbrid tvpes, of which improved varieties 



