THE GLADIOLUS 19 



bearing the blossoms all around the stalk like a 

 hyacinth, instead of merely on one side of the 

 stalk as had been customary with all other 

 varieties of gladiolus. 



Even at the present time, although the varie- 

 ties of gladiolus have been subject to rapid de- 

 velopment within the past few years, I recall the 

 California as one of the most beautiful flowers 

 of the family. 



Unfortunately this variety was lost, probably 

 by freezing, along with the entire stock of other 

 gladioli, by a Philadelphia dealer to whom it was 

 sold. 



My gladiolus colony progressed admirably, 

 and the new forms attained a degree of virility 

 that made it no more difficult to raise them than 

 to raise potatoes; indeed, much less difficult, in- 

 asmuch as the gladiolus bulbs in California do 

 not require to be dug or stored, but continue 

 their growth throughout the year. The only 

 object in digging them is to divide and separate 

 them for multiplication. 



The forms of the plants, and the manner of 

 bearing, as well as the shape and arrangement 

 of the blossoms, improved year by year, and the 

 new varieties of gladiolus came to be well known 

 to dealers throughout the country, and were still 

 under process of development when an unex- 



