Gladiolus Studies — I 151 



G. mitchamiensis is a hybrid resulting from crossing G. tristis and G. 

 hirsutus. It is named after ]Mitchain. where Dean Herbert, who raised 

 it, resided about 18 10. The flowers are beautifully variegated. incUning 

 toward G. tristis. 



G. nanceiamts is a hybrid produced by crossing G. Saundersii with 

 some of the first Lenioinei varieties. The flowers are larger than the 

 Lenioittei varieties, well open, and marked with pecuhar mottling or 

 with short, fine, often parallel, strokes of contrasting colors. The plants 

 of the different varieties van.- considerably in ^"^go^, some exceeding any 

 of the varieties of the other garden groups. The spikes of some of the 

 more vigorous nanceiamis varieties are often six feet high and bear 

 flowers seven inches across. As in the case of G. Let)ioinei, the varieties sent 

 out by Lemoine are hardy under conditions similar to those of the place 

 of origin. The first varieties. President Camot and Maurice de Vilmorin, 

 resulted from the crosses between G. Lemoiuei and G. Saundersii in 

 1S83. The seedlings flowered in 1885 and were placed on the market in 

 18S9. These forerunners of a new type were shown at the Universal 

 Exposition in Paris in 1889, and exhibited in the same year by Veitch & 

 Son at the meeting of the Royal Hortictdtural Society in London. 



G. nanus (Dwarf Gladioh) is the tenn apphed to a nvmiber of earlv- 

 flowering dwarf gladioli which differ from one another in the arrangement 

 of flowers and in the disposition of the spots of color. Most of them 

 are probably derived from G. cardinalis and G. ramosus, although G. 

 hlandus, G. tristis, and some others are probably concerned. This class 

 lias been largeh' developed by florists of the Channel Islands and in the 

 Low Countries. The literature concerning the varieties is scantv or 

 not readily available. G. Colvillei is undoubtedly the oldest varietv of 

 this class, and its white fonn (G. Colvillei albus. The Bride) is extensivelv 

 employed for forcing. 



G. odoraius is a hybrid between G. hirsutus and G. spoforthiamis, 

 raised by Dean Herbert. 



G. praecox forms a group reported to have arisen from intercrossing 

 the earHest varieties of G. gandavetisis , G. Lemoinci, G. Ckildsii, and G. 

 nanceianus. It is said that in color and size the flowers are the equal 

 of those of any other group. The especial merit of this new group is 

 that it can be grown from seed since seedlings flower the first year. The 

 group was originated by Frederick Roemer. 



G. princeps is a hybrid between G. cruenius and G. Childsii, produced 

 by \'an Fleet, who gave the histor\- of it as follows (Van Fleet. 1904) : 



Gladiolus Cruenius has round. wridel\--opened blooms about two inches across when 

 :ullv developed, bright blood-red in color, with broad white markings in the throat, 

 particularly at the bases of the lower petals or perianth di\-isions. It grows two or 

 more feet high, with broad, handsome foliage, with a characteristic droop to the tips 



