GLADIOLUS BLOUETIANUS. l"i y 



The number of true species of Gladiolus is considerable, and a few of them are 

 widely distributed in this country, communis, floribundus, psittacinus, and a few 

 others being found in almost every garden, however small ; but interesting as these 

 and the other species all are, they will, no doubt, soon give place to the more 

 beautiful hybrids, which have recently rewarded the attention of our own and the 

 continental Florists ; every season bringing us varieties each more splendid than its 

 predecessors. 



One of the earliest hybrids raised in this handsome tribe, was the 0. Colvillii, 

 the result of a cross between G. concolor and G. cardinalis ; and this variety still 

 maintains its ground as an exceedingly beautiful flower, and one of the earliest to 

 bloom. There are two or three varieties of Colvillii, all of them worth growing, 

 and to be had cheap, their price not exceeding 2s. to 3s. per dozen. 



The hybrids raised since Colvillii are now so numerous, and differ so much in 

 their habit that it has been proposed to divide them into sections, according to 

 their height and period of flowering. 



Section 1— contains the Colvillii varieties, which attain the height of two feet, 

 and flower early in June. 



Section 2 — includes llandus, pudibundus, Cardinalis, and their hybrids. Most 

 of them are under two feet in height, and flower from the end of June to the end 

 of July. Their colours are exceedingly varied, perhaps more so than those of the 

 other sections, and they deserve to be more extensively grown. Auguste Hardy, 

 General Bedem, distinctus, Rex rubrorum, blush, and Loddigesii, are a few of the 

 best of this class. 



Section 3 — comprises the varieties of the Ramosus breed, flowering in August, 

 and growing about eighteen inches to three feet high. The flowers of most of 

 them are larger than those of the preceeding sections. The whole of these are 

 extremely beautiful plants; so much so, that it is difficult to select. Perhaps 

 CJiristianus, Beesicing, Lord John Russell, Mehemet Ali, Oscar, Queen Victoria, Rising 

 Sun, and Von Gagern, are among the most interesting. 



Section 4 — includes the hybrids of. floribundus, Gandavensis, and some others of 

 a similar habit. They are all truly magnificent objects when in flower, many of 

 them being from four to six feet high, and bearing flower spikes two feet or more 

 long, with a large number of blossoms ; in the specimen of IT. Blouet, from which 

 our drawing was taken, there were seventeen, and even this must not be 

 understood as the maximum number. They are the latest bloomers of the tribe, 

 a few of them not blossoming before the end of September, and continuing into 

 October. The oldest of this class are floribundus, psittacinus, autumnalis, and 

 Gandavensis, all of them now pretty well known, especially the two former. 

 Gandavensis is an extremely desirable variety, and is also of interest, as being the 

 parent of many seedlings even yet more beautiful than itself. One of these we have 

 figured ; and although our space does not permit us to do justice to this or many 



