44 



On the Production of Hybrid Vegetables. 



seedlings of A. rutila with the dust of A. fulgida, approaching 

 as nearly as possible to the A. miniata of the Botanical Maga- 

 zine, (Plate 1943), which is not, however, that of Ruiz and 

 Pa von * I have also seedlings from A. fulgida with A. rutila, 

 and from A. Reginae with A. crocata. Seedlings of A. ru- 

 tila, of A. crocata, and of Cyrtanthus purpureus, (which 

 has been called A. purpurea,) have flowered with me at little 

 more than two years old . Seedlings of A . vi ttata do not flower 

 till they are at least seven or eight years old ; but that from 

 the mule A. Reginae-vittata flowered at the intermediate age 

 of three years and a half, which is worthy of note, as it ap- 

 pears to be an intermediate specific habit. African Gladioli 

 will flower often the second season from the seed ; Sparax- 

 ides and Ixias frequently the first, and then stronger than 

 when the roots are older. I have had a seedling Sparaxis 

 produce nearly forty flowers on a strong branching stem, 

 at nine months from the sowing of the seed. 



Of Gladioli I possess the following mules; G. blando-car- 

 dinalis, G. cardinali-blandus, G. angusto-blandus, G. tristi- 

 blandus, G. floribundo-blandus ; G. cardinali-angusto-blan- 

 dus ; G. tristi-hirsutus ; G. ringenti-tristis, and G. versico- 

 lore-hirsutus. I have this year seeds from further intermix- 

 tures, and mules may probably be obtained with endless 

 variety of colour. These mules flower most beautifully in 



those amongst the seedlings which have a strong purple stain at the base of the 

 leaves, will prove to be the offspring of A. fulgida, though some may perhaps have 

 partaken of a joint impression. Plants with green and with purple stained leaves 

 have proceeded from the same cells, those with green leaves are probably the 

 offspring of A. rutila. 



* Flora Peruviana, Vol. III. page 57. 



