THE GLADIOLUS. 
Gladiolus gandavensis. 
is a mere compliance with 
custom to label this flower 
Gladiolus gandavensis, for that 
is the name of an early hybrid 
between G.cardinalis and G. psil- 
dacinus, raised many years ago 
ina Belgian garden. But it is 
scarcely worth while to discuss 
technicalities or draw fine lines, 
and we prefer to talk about the 
gladiolus as a beauty to be wooed 
in the pleasant days of the after- 
summer. 
The florist’s varieties consti- 
tute a large and separate class, 
and are usually designated “hy- 
brids of gandavensis,” although 
they owe their origin to several 
species and to many and repeated 
crossings. To grow these well 
requires some care; but they are 
worthy of all attention, so various and splendid are 
their flowers. In the first place, then, it must be said 
that they are not hardy, and therefore it will not do to 
leave them in the ground all the winter. We have 
