Gladiolus Studies — II 



219 



stem; they should be of good form, well open; the grow'th should be erect 

 and remain so; and the plant should be compact in habit, due to heaw 

 foUage. Varieties adapted to landscape planting should further be of 

 such constitution that they stand the sun without fading. 



There is a great difference of opinion in regard to the value of curved 

 spikes. Fuld, Macomber, Van Fleet, Betscher, Richardson, Fischer, 

 Zeestraten, Tait, Wilmore, Brown, Spencer, Stewart, Auten, and Burbank 

 commend them, believing them to be more graceful and artistic than the 



Fig. 23. DOUBLE flower of klondyke 



This flower has six stamens, two pistils, and twelve perianth segments 



straight. Tait Hmits their value to the varieties bearing small flowers. 

 Auten thinks them valuable for funeral sprays. Many growers consider 

 them good for vases. It is the common complaint, however, that the 

 florists do not want them. 



Would doubling be an improvement, was the question asked of two 

 hundred gladiolus enthusiasts. The answers were varied. Bull thinks 

 the idea " too horrible to contemplate." Richardson writes thus: 

 " Simplicity rather than complexity is one of the most desirable char- 

 acteristics to be sought for. The simple spacing arrangement and abandon 



