10 LUTHER BURBANK 



the gardens of Europe, and gave their message, 

 we may be sure, here and there to a receptive 

 mind in substantiation of the disputed evolution- 

 ary doctrine, which, even before the publication 

 of Darwin's "Origin of Species," was exciting 

 the interest of the thoughtful. 



Other Gladiolus Hybrids 



Before the gladiolus made its full conquest of 

 the popular gardens, however, it was further im- 

 proved by other gardeners, both in England and 

 in continental Europe. 



The species that the Rev. Herbert had crossed 

 were the showy Gladiolus cardinalis and the 

 smaller but more free-flowering Gladiolus 

 hlandus. Subsequently he crossed a number of 

 other species, and produced races of great beauty 

 and fertility. But a race produced by Mr. Col- 

 ville at Chelsea in 1823, by fertilizing the form 

 known as Gladiolus cristus with the pollen of 

 Gladiolus cardinalis gained additional popu- 

 larity. 



It was not until 1837, however, that the form 

 was originated which was to make actual con- 

 quest of gardens throughout Europe, and pres- 

 ently to attain corresponding popularity even in 

 America. This new form which became the 

 parent from which most modern varieties of 



