The Canadian Horticulturist. 215 



IV'^. How long will the best imported bulbs remain up to the standard of the variety in 

 our conditions ? and from whence do we obtain our finest strain of bulbs ? 



I am very glad you are giving some attention to this truly beautiful and justly 

 popular flower. I firmly believe that it will amplj' repay any amount of attention given 

 to it, and be likely to improve both itself and its devoted cultivator. It is easily managed 

 and well suited to popular use. Success to the kindly efforts of the Canadian Horti- 



CfLTrRIST. 



B. GOTT, Stratkroy, Ont. 

 Reply by H. H. Groff, Simcoe. Out. 



In replying tQ yours of the 4th inst., let me ask your readers not to 

 lose sight of the fact, that we are speaking of hybrid Gladioli, and that the 

 results of later work, containing as it does, such a complex mixture of blood 

 from several species, produces a most variable fiower ; and when raised from 

 choice seed, it is likely to break into endless combinations of form and beauty. 



The amateur of to-day fails to realize the value of his heritage, in the 

 results of many past years of experiment and labor, now offered at his very 

 door ; and those of long experience have yet to learn how far beyond their 

 expectations this work has been carried, to its present successful issue. 



Below find my replies to the questions from you : — 



Ans. I. — Varieties are increased by the small root offsets, or bulblets, 

 whicli invariably reproduce the parent^ excepting in special cases of reversion 

 to one of the species from which the variety originally d^cended. Botanically 

 speaking, no two seedlings are aHke, and they are as likely to resemble any 

 other variety of their section as either the seed or pollen parent, excepting in 

 cases of special selection, and even then no definite results can be foretold, the 

 chief advance being in the line of quality. 



Ans. 2. — Reply to No 1 covers this query. 



Ans, 3. — This depends entirely upon the stock used and methods prac- 

 tised in seed raising. In my own work, varieties originate that are superior 

 to those they resemble in the choicest importations ; seventy-five p>er cent, are 

 often worth retaining, while, from ordinary commercial seed, over five per cent, 

 is the exception. 



Ans. 4. — Imported bulbs often fail entirely, before becoming acclimatized, 

 and in the Gandavensis section I have long claimed that high-priced varieties 

 should be furnished in strong, unbloomed bulblet grown bulbs, which are 

 invariably refused, the grower knowing their greater value, and the average 

 buyer preferring something big. Many of these big bulbs fail to produce a 

 characteristic fiower for two successive seasons, and often not until grown again 

 from bulblets. These are all questions of the vitality of each individual variety. 

 Europe has always produced the most advanced work on general lines ; but 

 we, thanks to the laborers of the past, can easily place ourselves on an equal 

 footing, without the loss of time necessary in building up from the species. 



