Gladiolus Studies — II 247 



supposed to bloom, but often does. The smaller sizes are sorted with sieves 

 of from |-inch to i^-inch mesh. The other sizes are sorted by hand. 



Endicott (1886) mentions the division of individual corms as a method 

 of more rapid multiplication. He writes: " One way of propagating 

 varieties is by cutting the bulbs into pieces. If a bulb be stripped of 

 its husks, there mil usually be found two large buds at the top and 

 smaller ones in a line dowTi each side, every one of which may be made 

 to grow and form a bulb." 



Mr. Banks, of England, according to Dombrain (1873), divides the 

 corms into several pieces in the case of scarce varieties. If the corm is 

 left entire, it often happens that one of the shoots will not start because 

 of a decay, which infection may spread through the whole corm, causing 

 its entire loss. 



Woodruff (1915 b) takes the precaution to dust the cut surface with 

 soot, although he is not persuaded that this is of real value. 



It is a common opinion that gladioli change from one color to another 

 after having grown for a few years, as already stated (page 225). This 

 may be due to the rapid multiplication of some varieties and the more 

 rapid deterioration of others. The slower propagation of certain ones 

 merely increases their proportions. There is a greater tendency, it is 

 thought, for the lighter-colored varieties to run out first; and the white 

 ones are in all cases of rather weaker constitutions. 



In the spring one often obsen^es certain corms which have not been 

 stored in the best conditions and which have turned brownish; though 

 not diseased, they are considerably changed in color and dried. WTiile 

 actually the corms are not so good as normally colored ones, their change 

 is due to a conversion of some of their starch into sugar. When planted 

 they generally bloom well. 



Regarding a correlation between color of corm and color of bloom, 

 Co wee (191 5 a) says: 



Although we are able, from years of e.xperience in handling gladiolus bulbs, to sort 

 out from mixtures many named varieties by reason of color of bulb and other charac- 

 teristics, I believe it is quite impossible to determine with any degree of accuracy the 

 shade of bloom bulbs of certain colors \\'ill produce. From our experience we find 

 that red shades produce a larger proportion of yellow bulbs, light, medium and dark 

 (about 50 per cent), about 25 per cent of red bulbs, and about 25 per cent divided 

 equally between white, flesh and pink. Pink shades rarely produce red bulbs, the 

 shades of yellow predominating about 50 per cent, the balance being di\'ided between 

 pink and white bulbs, the latter predominating. White shades produce about equal 

 quantities of white and yellow bulbs, a smaller proportion of pink bulbs, and a smaller 

 proportion of red bulbs. Yellow shades rarely produce other than yellow and pink 

 bulbs. Blue shades rarely produce other than yellow or white bulbs. 



You will note from the above, which is a careful record of investigations made that 

 it would be quite impossible to determine the color of flower from the color of the bulb. 



The writer's observations show further that some of the corms are 

 intermediate in color between red and veUow, while manv can trulv be 



