GLADIOLUS. 



127 



est so long centered in this noble class of plants, a class 

 the systematic botanist respects as highly as the florist, 

 because the wonderful developments in form, and the 

 marvellous changes, separations and variations in colors, 

 had not, from nature's standpoint, in any way trans- 

 formed a natural form into a monstrosity. 



To M. Victor Lemoine, of Nancy, France, we are 

 indebted for a new race, that bears his name ; a race so 

 distinct and so gorgeously colored as to awaken the most 

 lively interest in cross-fertilization, with the full assur- 

 ance that variation has by no means exhausted her 

 resources. Mr. ¥m. Falconer, whose delineation of 

 floral forms is always accurate, speaks of these so truth- 

 fully, in the American Florist, that we quote as follows : 

 "'Lemoine's hybrids' are a race of Gladiolus that was 

 obtained by M. Victor Lemoine, of France, by crossing 

 Gladiolus purpureo-auratus with a variety of G, Ganda- 

 vensis. Some of these hybrids are very beautiful. The 

 v attempt is made to secure brilliance of color, and at the 

 same time retain the characteristic form of Purpureo- 

 auratus, for there is quite an inclination among seed- 

 lings to partake strongly of the Gandavensis form. The 

 flowers are small, sometimes campanulate, and frequently 

 hooded, but their most positive character is the rich 

 crimson-purple blotch on the two, or often three, lower 

 segments. The plants are vigorous and healthy, but 

 somewhat slender; the flower spikes are moderately 

 long, but often slender, and the blossoms are more 

 remotely placed in the spikes than is usual in the Gan- 

 davensis, or are crowded near the end of the spike. 



"These hybrids have the reputation of being hardy, 

 but they are not. Simply because we meet occasional 

 instances where they may have survived the winter, is 

 no proof at all of their hardiness. In cultivating them 

 plant them out early in the season and let them stay in 

 the ground late. In the fall they seem to be ripe long 



