Gladiolus Studies — I 145 



pointed; leaves dark salmon, steel blue with black spots. A new gladiolus 

 not yet seen." 



G. brenchleyensis is usually considered a form of G. gaiidavcnsis, although 

 the persistency with which it has retained its individuality through a 

 period of more than sixty-five years might lend weight to the belief that 

 it is more than G. gmidavensis . The early histor}^ of G. brenchleyensis is 

 not definitely known. In 1848 this variety was recorded as a hybrid 

 between G. psittacinns and G. florihundus, raised by Mr. Hooker, of 

 Brenchley, about 1846.^^ The stock, or a considerable proportion of it, 

 passed into the possession of the Youells. of Yarmouth, who were for 

 years the largest growers of G. brenchleyensis in England. Their notable 

 displays of this h}-brid did more to direct the attention of the public 

 to the merits of this excellent variety than did the eftorts of any one 

 else. The flowers are vivid scarlet, with pencilings of yellow in the 

 throat. They are only medium in size, but the great number open at one 

 time produce a briUiant eftect. The plant is therefore ver}- useful in the 

 garden, where it is a vigorous grower. It is considered by many growers 

 to be the best scarlet variety, and is grown for its good color for table 

 decorations. In Europe this gladiolus is often recommended for bedding 

 with Galtonia candicans. Barr, in 1905, introduced ^Mikado, a sport of 

 G. brenchleyensis which was described as having flowers of a pale blush-rose 

 shading to cream, with the lower petal striped crimson on a primrose- 

 colored ground. 



G. candicans is a blandus-carditialis hybrid producing a pure white 

 flower of good size and appearance. This was raised by Mr. Miller, of 

 Bristol, about 1837. 



G. cajididns is a h^'brid between G. blaudns and G. cardinalis, raised 

 by Mr. Miller, of Bristol, about 1837, and figured in Smith's Floral 

 Magazine. 



G. Childsii has been one of the most important types in America. It 

 is a hybrid between G. gaiidavcnsis and G. Saundcrsii, originally produced 

 by Max Leichtlin, of Baden-Baden, Germany. Leichtlin was perhaps 

 the first to appreciate the value of G. Saundersii, which he used in 1874 in 

 crossing with some of the best varieties of G. gandavensis. The first flowers 

 appeared in 1877 and the influence of the cross was especially manifest in 

 the size of the flowers, which, according to LeichtHn, measured four inches 

 across. The results of this hybridization work were reported in 1882. 



Leichtlin appears to have disposed of his stock in the autumn of 1882 

 to Godefroy-Lebeuf, of Argenteuil, France. This new class of hybrids, 

 however, seems not to have met with favor at the hands of European 



'^ George Bunvard stated in igio that his firm obtained G. brenchleyensis from Hooker and sold it to 

 the Youells. Henry Youell (igii). in an address before the American Gladiolus Society, gives an 

 entirely different account of its origin. 



