Gladiolus Studies — I 125 



The third and fourth Sorts are the most valuable, producing taller Stalks, and 

 fairer Flowers: nor are these so apt to increase; which renders them fitter for the Borders 

 of a Flower-garden; so that since these have been introduced, and become common, 

 the other Sorts have been rejected, unless in some old Gardens, or for large Wilderness- 

 quarters, where they will grow better than the two last-mentioned. 



The Indian Comflag is tender, and must be preserved in a warm Green-house, or 

 a moderate Stove, during the Winter-season. These Roots should be planted in pots 

 filled with a light sandy soil. The best time to transplant them is any time from 

 May till September. 



A study of these species — G. communis, G. segetum, and G. hyzantinus 

 — leads to the conviction that the greatest possible advance had been 

 made as earh- as the time of Parkinson. No further improvement in 

 garden gladioli was made for about one hundred and fifty years, when 

 other species were introduced. . • 



It is not definitely known which of the African species from the Cape 

 of Good Hope was first introduced into Europe. The evidence points to 

 G. angnshis and G. tristis, since they are mentioned by Breyne (1739 b) and 

 the former was figured by Linnaeus in Hortus Clifortianns (1737). G. 

 tristis was flowered by Miller in 1745, and G. alatiis and G. recurvus (the 

 latter under the name Breynianus) were also, according to Ker, known 

 to Breyne. These were followed by G. Milleri, 1751, G. involutus, 1757, 

 and G". undulatiis, 1760. 



Soon a great many irids from tlie Cape were described under the genus 

 Gladiolus, but later a large proportion, if not the majority, of these were 

 transferred to new genera. This, together with the confusion concerning 

 the identity of the species, makes it quite impossible to fix with certainty 

 the date of introduction of these older forms. For example, Lamarck's 

 Enc\-clopedia (1786) describes thirty-two species, of which only eight — 

 alatiis Linn., angiistiis Linn., communis Linn., imbricatus Linn., lutetis 

 Lam., montanus Linn., recurvus Linn., and tristis Linn. — are now recog- 

 nized as true species of Gladiolus, most of the others being now included 

 in Babiana and Watsonia. 



G. blandiis was introduced in 1774, G. cardinalis and G. floribundus in 

 1789. These species gave the first impetus to gladiolus improvement. 



The attention of amateurs and gardeners appears to have been directed 

 toward the early-flowering species, which yield flowers during the early 

 stmimer when planted in the fall. This was possible because many of the 

 species were fairly hardy in England and the Low Countries. Such species 

 as cardinalis, communis, bla)uius, and tristis were especially adapted for 

 garden planting. The plants seeded freely, and since cross-fertilization 

 is easily accomphshed in gladioli it is not surprising to find a ntmiber of 

 new forms soon appearing in the gardens. 



The first important hybrid appears to have been G. Colvillei, or Colville's 

 com flag, which was raised in 1823 at Colville's Nursery, Chelsea, England. 



