HYBRIDIZING GLADIOLUS SPECIES. 



147 



growth and virility of increase hitherto unknown in the genus. It appears 

 to succeed wherever tested, and can be doubtless grown anywhere and in any 

 soil. A peculiarity of cruentus in developing its flower spikes after the first 

 buds open is fully retained. When the spike first appears it is short and 

 blunt, looking as if only a few blooms would develop, but growth proceeds 

 until often 19 to 22 of these immense flowers are open, the last being about 

 as large and perfect as the first. This progressive growth continues in water, 

 if frequently changed, almost as perfectly as on the plant. From two to four 

 blooms are fully expanded at the same time, thus giving a flowering period 

 of nearly five weeks for a plot of Princeps, taking into consideration the suc- 

 cessive side spikes and extra flowering growths sent up from strong corms. 

 During this period, from the first of August to near the middle of September, 

 a bed of this variety rivals in brilliancy an equal expanse of scarlet salvias. 



Attempts to reproduce Princeps by repeating the original cross have 

 always failed, but many good flowers have since resulted, some of which seem 

 worthy of perpetuation. Some odd fawn and ash colors result when crossed 

 with species of the psittacinus and drachocephalus types. With oppositiflorus 

 it gives a soft pink of remarkable profusion of bloom, possibly valuable for 

 beddifig purposes. The potentialities of cruentus will not soon be exhausted, 

 and it is likely to be frequently heard of in the future. 



A few unique species remain, among which Ecklonii seems most practical. 

 It is a little plant, growing 15 to 18 inches high, with a short spike of star- 

 shaped flowers, dull white, profusely peppered with dark purple brown. It is 

 delicate and likes plenty of heat, but the corms are quite large and are ex- 

 cellent keepers. The first hybrids with oppositiflorus and light Lemoineis 

 yielded strong plants, with long, many-flowered spikes, running into shades of 

 wine and light purple-brown, covered inside and out with characteristic spot- 

 ting of darker tints. The best of these singular hybrids, pollenized with 

 Princeps and large-flowered garden varieties, have developed very striking 

 large kinds with finely-shaped blooms of various pink and wine shades, with 

 the profuse spotting well brought out. They appear well worthy of introduc- 

 tion as soon as sufficient stock is secured. 



G. Ludwigi is an odd species of tall and very upright growth. The leaves 

 are strongly plicate, resembling young palm fronds, and are quite hirsute, the 

 pubescence being most strongly marked on the flower spike. The many flow- 

 ers are dull salmon-pink, small and poorly opened. They are quite ventricose 

 in form, and very late in appearing. Crossing with cruentus, the only species 

 we could manage to get in bloom at the same time, has improved the form, 

 enlarged the size, brightened the color and advanced the season of the bloom, 

 while removing most of the pubescence from the plant, which is still very 

 upright and plicate in foliage. It is not a promising species to work from, 

 but we hope to keep at it until real garden improvement is obtained or the 

 successive dilute hybrids become sterile. 



A most distinct and beautiful little Gladiolus species was sent us three 

 years ago by Herr Leichtlin, whose collector found it among high cliffs in a 

 little-known part of Madagascar. It is not larger than a Freesia in growth, 

 and produces good-sized and elegantly formed blooms of pure bright yellow. 

 The yellow is as good as the best Jonquil or trumpet Narcissus, and not the 



