THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



so improved under the refining influence 

 of scientific selection, as to make it the 

 most desirable flower, even if both 

 could be produced with equal sim- 

 plicity of culture. 



My reason forthis statement is : that if 

 from the comparatively few species used 

 in the production of our hybrid Gladioli 

 we have seen developed such marvels 

 of beauty, and more within the past five 

 years than in the preceding fifty, it is 

 not unreasonable to expect an even 

 more rapid proportionate increase in 

 beauty and variation in the future, not 

 only from the results of close selection 

 from these perfected hybrids, but 

 through the many newly discovered 

 species yearly increased by botanical ex- 

 ploration, each bearing such special and 

 distinct characteristics as to give greater 

 promise for the future. 



When first I became interested in the 

 flower and purchased my amateur supply 

 by the thousand, it seemed desirable to 

 select the most beautiful ones and dis- 

 card inferior sorts — so I began my first 

 selected mixtures. During the long and 

 dreary winter I cheered myself with 

 thoughts of the pleasure awaiting me, 

 but when the " selected " bloomed I 

 concluded that a mistake had been 

 made, for I could never have thought 

 such flowers worthy of perpetuation. 

 Of course I wanted to know the reason 

 for the non-appearance of my favorites, 

 and found this inability to reproduce 

 characteristic flowers due to lack of 

 vitality and fixity, caused by the self 

 fertilization of a long in-bred and de- 

 generated parentage. 



Hybridizing and cross-breeding of 

 selected varieties being the only path to 

 my ideal, I gathered the best material 

 obtainable and commenced work, and 

 so absorbing and interesting has it 

 become, that I never expect to abandon 

 it entirely. 



As a' flower for amateurs the Gladiolus 

 demands a first place on account of 

 ease of culture, unequalled range of 

 color and variation, and general adapt- 

 ability for home, cemetery, and church 

 decoration. Few flowers cover the 

 whole range of color equal to the Glad- 

 iolus, and when fixed types are secured 

 they can be reproduced year after year 

 without loss. 



Horticultural societies are justified in 

 giving them prominence, but they may 

 never hope to understand the flower, by 

 always buying low grade and low priced 

 stock. I cannot do it— and advise 

 societies to advance the quality of their 

 selections each year, for they will never 

 secure more than fair stock at best, in 

 comparison with the gems obtainable. 



On one occasion in reply to an en- 

 quiry made by me, a society said, " We 

 bought Gladioli last year," as though 

 one, or even ten purchases of yearly 

 advanced quality in low grade stock, 

 would do more than give a glimpse of 

 the true character and value of a flower 

 that has been so recently improved. 



This year a lady writing from Central 

 York, asked me to exclude certain hy- 

 brids from her collection, saying, " I 

 just hate them." Fancy beautiful and 

 refined woman hating a flower — but her 

 experience had not extended beyond 

 the earlier hybrids of a section which 

 excels the whole group in form, size, 

 substance, quality, beauty, and range of 

 color. 



A large dealer last year expressed his 

 objection to the form and size of a cer- 

 tain section, and was surprised to learn, 

 that not only was the form referred to 

 out of date in this section ; but was the 

 largest and best formed flower bloomed 

 by me in contrast to the world's best 

 and latest introductions in that season, 

 was of this condemned family. 



I simply give these instances in sup- 

 :6o 



