266 STUDIES IN GARDENING 



owing to hybridization between them, to lose all dis- 

 tinctive qualities. From nurserymen's catalogues one 

 can only learn, as a rule, that each group is generally 

 considered superior to all the rest. The oldest group 

 was G. gandavensis, supposed to be a hybrid between 

 the natural species G. psittacinus and G. cardinalis, 

 but other species were afterwards crossed with them. 

 The well-known G. Brenchleyensis, the scarlet Gladio- 

 lus, is probably only a form of gandavensis. The 

 other groups are all hybrids either between Ganda- 

 vensis and some natural species, or between Ganda- 

 vensis and other hybrids. Thus G. Lemoinei is a 

 hybrid between forms of gandavensis and G. pur- 

 pureo-auratus, and the strain of the latter parent has 

 produced some varieties that are almost blue. Then 

 Mr. Lemoine has produced a new group, nanceianus, 

 by crossing G. Lemoinei with a species of G. Saun- 

 dersii. These have larger flowers than G. Lemoinei. 

 Close to them are G. Childsii, hybrids of G. ganda- 

 vensis and G. Saundersii. Of all these groups G. 

 Lemoinei are the most distinct in their colours and 

 markings. The largest of all gladioli is a new variety, 

 Princeps, of a fine scarlet colour with a white stripe. 

 The culture is the same for all. They may be planted 

 from the beginning of April to the end of May, and 

 the earliest planted come into flower about the middle 

 of July. The Lemoinei group flower the earliest, the 

 hybrids with G. Saundersii the latest. Gladioli are 

 at their best in a rich loam, though they will do well 

 enough in a light soil if it is well manured. The ground 



