THE GLADIOLUS. 29 



Houtte is in error; for after repeated attempts to hybrid- 

 ize the two, he, Mr. Herbert, could not succeed; con- 

 sequently it could not be done, and what Mr. Van Houtte 

 said had been done was a mistake. All the English 

 writers agree with Mr. Herbert, and say the origin of 

 G. Gandavensis is obscure. There is no question, how- 

 ever, as to the fact, that to G. Gandavensis we are indebted 

 for all our fine garden varieties, as it crosses freely with 

 many of the species, and each cross seems to possess 

 merits superior to either parent. It is a common mistake 

 to call our many varieties hybrids, when in reality they 

 are all, or nearly all, cross-breeds ; and this is one of the 

 most interesting features in Gladioli culture, that every 

 cross between well-known varieties tends in almost every 

 case to improve, not only the beauty of the flower, but 

 the vigor of the plant. 



RAISING FROM SEED. 



We wish now to remove, as far as possible, the preva- 

 lent erroneous idea, that it is a difficult task to raise new 

 and choice varieties from seed. The only secret, the 

 only mystery is, that one can with so little trouble and 

 expense produce flowers that will give such intense satis- 

 faction and pleasure. 'It is no more trouble to raise 

 Gladioli from seed than it is to raise the most common 

 vegetable. With the simplest garden culture, there is an 

 almost absolute certainty of success. Prepare your bed 

 in spring as for any hardy annual, sow your seed, and 

 cover to the depth of one inch. Hoe as often as needed 

 for other crops ; keep them well weeded ; take up the 

 bulbs after a frost, or before, if they show signs of ripen- 

 ing ; store them in a dry cellar, free from frost ; plant 

 them out again the next spring, and the ensuing summer 



