THE GLADIOLUS 17 



In particular I sought, while improving the 

 stalks and the arrangement of flowers on 

 the stalks, to make the petals of the individ- 

 ual blossoms stand out flat and in regular 

 sequence. 



The work progressed along the lines of hybrid- 

 izing and selection with which the reader is 

 already familiar, introducing strains of the long- 

 neglected natural species to give added virility 

 and stimulate still further variation, thus provid- 

 ing materials for selection. 



Growing the plants by the acre, abundant 

 material for choice was at hand and my usual 

 method of choosing only a few of the very best 

 representatives of the different forms that 

 seemed worth developing, destroying the rest, 

 was rigidly exercised. 



In the course of a few years there were de- 

 veloped varieties which were introduced with 

 new names, and which made their way every- 

 where, and were highly prized by gardeners 

 throughout the United States. 



Doubtless the most interesting development in 

 this early period was the form named the Cali- 

 fornia. This was a really magnificent semi- 

 double variety which not only excelled in the 

 form and size and color of the individual blos- 

 soms, but which had the added peculiarity of 



