Gladiolus Studies — II 



223 



Perhaps few words have been so universally discussed as the term hybrid. 

 Many definitions state that a 

 hybrid is the result of the 

 crossing of two species- Since 

 Mendelism has gained promi- 

 nence, a hybrid is defined as 

 the offspring of crosses be- 

 tween individuals of a dis- 

 tinctly different nature. The 

 word cross is now used inter- 

 changeabh' with the term 

 hybrid. 



A sport, or mutation, is a 

 sudden departure from the 

 type of the race, and is cap- 

 able of breeding true to seed. 

 It is to be remembered, in 

 considering so complex a h}- 

 brid as the garden gladiolus, 

 that all sorts of unusual forms 

 appear from time to time, 

 which are not mutations but 

 are hybrid forms that would 

 logically be expected from 

 such crosses. New forms that 

 arise from seed should not be 

 considered sports; a careful 

 study of the constitution of 

 the parents will determine 

 their character. It is possible 

 that forms such as Colvillei 

 albus can be considered mu- 

 tations, but perhaps they are 

 merely recessive forms in 

 hybridization. 



Stewart (1914) illustrates 

 and describes a gladiolus 

 sport from the variety Black 

 Beauty which has the normal 

 red flowers on one side of 

 the spike and several white flowers 



Fig. 



MRS. MONTAGUE CHAMBERLAIN" 



This white bloom is most daintily penciled. The openness 

 of the bloom adds to its attractiveness 



resembling La Luna, on the other 



