Some of the most attractive slender sorts have been developed 

 by crossing the garden hybrids with other wild species. The 

 Maid of the Mist Gladiolus which was introduced from the 

 moist gorge of the Victoria Falls in tropical Africa, has a 

 rich \ellow blossom which is small, narrow, drooping and 

 \ery much hooded, it is slender and graceful of very distinctive 

 form, its seedlings all are colored by a combination of the 

 yellow of the species with the varied colors of the hybrid parent, 

 giving delicate tints of orange, salmon, cream, and a variety 

 or pastel shades. Ruffled blossoms have )aIso been developed 

 among these Primulinus hybrids and they are particularly 

 graceful. Ming Toy, The Orchid, Butterfly, Golden Frills and 

 Cara Mia all belong in this latter group. Recently the peren- 

 nial demand for larger and larger sized flowers has resulted 

 in the development of giant forms of Primulinus hybrids 

 such as Giant Nymph. These retain the graceful habit of the 

 wild species combined w^ith larger size and firmer substance. 

 The modern Gladiolus thus has a complex heritage from 

 a number of wild forms, but only four of the nine principal 

 groups comprising the genus appear to have entered into the 

 development of our garden varieties. The five remaining 

 groups and the scores of neglected species offer ample op- 

 portunity for many new^ developments. It would be a rash 

 person indeed who would attempt to predict what new devel- 

 opments there may be among Gladiolus even during the next 

 decade. 



New York Botanical Garden 



