1 90 POPULAR GARDEN FLOWERS 



In the best modern varieties of Gladioli the individual 

 flowers are nearly as large as Candidum Lilies, and they 

 are arranged on the stem in a double row, facing one 

 way, so that they are collectively, as well as individually, 

 beautiful. Such sorts are much superior to those in 

 which the flowers face different points of the compass. 

 If the Gladiolus-grower is one who raises seedlings, he 

 should only choose those which have this desirable trait 

 for future propagation. 



The colours are brilliant and varied. We get blush, 

 pink, rose, scarlet, crimson, lilac, salmon, ruby, cream, 

 cherry, mauve, and yellow. Many varieties have a white 

 or yellow throat with a different body colour. Others 

 are flaked or spotted. It was many years before we got 

 a pure white and a self yellow in the large-flowered type ; 

 we have these treasures now. 



Beautiful Species. The magnificent modern Gladioli 

 have been developed by hybridising between different 

 species. A few are still grown, and I may touch on the 

 best of them, without, however, committing myself to the 

 assurance that they are all really genuine species : I have 

 grave doubts about several. Blandus } flesh-coloured, is 

 one of the earliest to bloom, opening in June ; it may be 

 planted in autumn. Blushing Bride, pale pinky white, 

 blooms early. Brenchleyensis, scarlet, flowers in July 

 from corms planted in autumn. Colvillei, often classed 

 as a species, is really a hybrid between cardinalis and 

 tristis ; it is red marked with purple ; both it and its 

 white variety, alba (The Bride), but more particularly 

 the latter, are valued for pot culture, being treated like 

 pot Hyacinths and Tulips. Delicatissima, pale pink, 

 spotted, is an early bloomer. Floribundus, citron- 

 coloured, blooms in July. Gandavensis, crimson and 

 yellow, is a hybrid, and one of the parents of our beauti- 



