268 IRIDE^. 



Flowers open in September and October. Native of Crimea 

 and Transylvania. 



C. vernus (Ve?'nal C.) — Nearly all the common blue, purple, 

 and white spring varieties of Crocus have sprung from this 

 species, and it is the commonest and most widely-distributed 

 as well as the most variable of the species in nature. I am not 

 aware that any other species of vernal Crocus has the hairy 

 tube which distinguishes this one in all its varieties. It is a 

 native of nearly every country of southern Europe, and is a na- 

 turalised native of some parts of Britain. 



C. versicolor {Striped C.) — This is another vernal species, and 

 the parent of a good many varieties of white, lilac, purple, and 

 grey-striped varieties occasionally seen in gardens. The varie- 

 ties of this species are distinguished from those of the last by 

 the absence of hairs on the throat of the flower, and by the 

 stigmas, the lobes of which are usually more or less rolled back 

 at the points, and by their being nearly equal in width through- 

 out and generally entire. The lobes of the stigmas in the 

 Vernal C. widen more or less upwards, are spreading, but not 

 convolute, and are somewhat jagged or cut. Native of southern 

 Europe. 



Gladiolus. — This fine genus is well known in gardens in the 

 numerous and splendid varieties commonly known as Ganda- 

 vensis and Ramosus hybrids. These have quite eclipsed in 

 popularity the few species that were formerly cultivated either 

 in pots or in the hardy flower-garden. Their very beautiful 

 and distinct features, and their colours, gorgeous and chaste, 

 comprising many shades of red, white, yellow, purple, and com- 

 binations of these in the different varieties, need not be enlarged 

 upon here, they are so familiar to all lovers of flowers. And 

 the uses to which they are adapted in the embellishment of 

 gardens are no less familiar and well understood. In mixed 

 arrangements of colour they are indispensable, and for the back 

 lines of large mixed borders, the centres of large beds, back- 

 ground lines for masses of colour, as well as for planting amongst 

 low-growing shrubs, there are few of the gifts of Flora more 

 suitable in all respects than the vigorous-growing varieties of the 

 types above named ; and the dwarf-growing kinds of both these 

 types, and of the Cardinalis breed, as well as some species not 

 so common, are more adaptable to a variety of positions requir- 

 ing lowness of stature along with brilliant and attractive flowers. 

 The varieties of all these sections are often recommended for 

 massing on the " bedding-out " pattern ; for this purpose they 

 are not well suited. Neither their habit nor the style of their 

 inflorescence is well adapted to that plan, and their shortlived 



