GLADIOLUS. 



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would be sufficient, but growers of exhibition plants, or those capable of winning 

 prizes at leading flower shows, are advised to pay most attention to the vigorous growers, 

 which are not floriferous in a young state. Below are given the names of a good 

 dozen exhibition varieties, which are all single-flowering, the doubles not growing 

 strongly enough and, in addition, do not travel well owing to the great weight of 

 the flowers : — ■ 



Dark-Coloured Varieties. — Abundance, Lye's Eival, Charming, Doel's Favourite, 

 Resplendent, and Walter H. Long. 



Light-Coloured Varieties. — Beauty of Lavington, Beauty of Trowbridge, Gem of 

 Lavington, Letty Lye, Mrs. Bright, and Mrs. Eundell. 



GLADIOLUS. 



The gladiolus belongs to the Iridece or Iris family, and possesses in a marked degree 

 the brilliant and chaste colouring so widely distributed throughout the family. There 

 are many species — Mr. J. G. Baker enumerates upwards of 130, and only a few of these 

 have been called to the aid of the florist in his remarkably successful efforts to improve 

 the flower. Pleasing as many of the original species are, they cannot stand comparison 

 with the magnificent hybrids of the gandavensis section or the other seedlings which 

 have been produced. It was the introduction of G. gandavensis, little more than fifty 

 years ago, that led so largely to the improvement of the gladiolus. There is some 

 difference of opinion as to whether cardinalis or oppositiflorus share the honour of its 

 parentage with psittacinus, but Mr. Baker says it is a hybrid between the first and last 

 named. The work of the florist has enormously changed the flowers raised from this 

 hybrid, and it is difficult to conceive anything finer than some of the grand spikes of 

 named sorts exhibited at the principal flower shows. 



In late years, new hybrids have been raised. Of these, the best known are Lemoinei, 

 nanceianus, raised at Nancy in France, and Childsi. The first has been the outcome 

 of the hybridisation of G. purpureo-auratus with the best varieties of gandavensis. 

 The second was produced between Lemoinei and Saundersi, like nearly all the others 

 a Cape species. Childsi is understood to have the same parentage, or to come from 

 Saundersi and gandavensis. Besides these, there are a few other hybrids not so well 

 known ; and the early flowering species have given birth to a number of seedling 

 forms of considerable beauty. The gladiolus in its best forms is thus a true florist's 



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