ON THE GLADIOLUS 



Growing the plants by the acre, I had abundant 

 material for choice, and my usual method of choos- 

 ing only a few of the very best representatives of 

 the different forms that seemed worth developing, 

 destroying the rest, was rigidly exercised. 



I succeeded so well that in the course of a few 

 years there developed varieties which were intro- 

 duced with new names, and which made their way 

 everywhere, 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 blossoms, but 

 which had the added peculiarity of bearing the 

 blossoms all around the stalk like a hyacinth, in- 

 stead of merely on one side of the stalk as had 

 been customary with all other varieties of gladi- 

 olus. 



Even at the present time, although the varieties 

 of gladiolus have been subject to rapid develop- 

 ment within the past few years, I recall the Cali- 

 fornia as one of the most beautiful flowers of the 

 family. 



Unfortunately this plant was lost, probably by 

 freezing, along with the entire stock of other gladi- 

 oli, by an eastern dealer to whom it was sold. 



[181] 



