28 
The Garden Magazine, March, 1921 
Baron Hulot: While classed as a "blue” variety, it is really 
a rich purple. When first on the market it suffered from having 
too many names, being also offered as Blue Jay, and Germania. 
This variety arranged with the yellow and orange shades of 
“ Primulinus Hybrids” is very effective. While other so-called 
blues and purples have been brought out, Baron Hulot is still 
giving satisfaction where its color is wanted. If a lighter shade 
is desired, Catharina is larger flowered and has all the earmarks 
of a good variety. 
Empress of India: One of the richest deep maroon colored 
varieties, and seems to meet with popular favor everywhere. A 
healthy grower and sure bloomer, the Empress continues to 
hold its own. 
Evelyn Kirtland: One of the best varieties ever intro- 
duced having an extra long spike with large flowers well placed. 
A beautiful shade of rosy-pink, darker at the edges fading to 
shell-pink at the centre, brilliant scarlet blotches on the lower 
petals. A glistening sheen seems to cover the whole flower, 
adding to its effectiveness. No trouble to get spikes three to 
four feet long. 
Mrs. Frank Pendleton: Everyone is fond of this variety. 
Flowers are large, well expanded, a lovely flushed salmon-pink 
color with deep blood-red blotches in the throat. Very orchid- 
• like in its appearance. Seems to have Lemoinei blood in the 
slightly hooded form of its flowers, but has a good stem for 
taking up water and so is useful for cutting. Very popular and 
dependable. 
Mrs. Francis King: One of the older varieties but main- 
• tains its prestige as the leading light scarlet or flame-colored 
variety. Spikes are long and very graceful. Fine for garden or 
greenhouse. 
Orange Glory: One of the best of the so-called ruffled type. 
The flower is a very pleasing orange shade, and very large; 
the foliage distinct and the plant perhaps the most vigorous 
grower of all. Most effective either in the garden or as a cut 
flower for vases. 
Pink Perfection: One of the best varieties that has come to 
us from Holland. The flowers are of a beautiful bright pink color 
and very large. The spikes are usually crooked with the flowers 
placed in an irregular way so that they are more than ordinarily 
effective and useful in a decoration of any kind. 
Peace: A good name and a good flower. The spike is un- 
usually heavy, nearly always straight with the large flowers 
correctly placed. White with pale lilac feathering on the smal- 
ler petals. Always gives satisfaction. 
Schwa ben : The best large flowered yellow, a delicate pale yel- 
low or straw shade having a dark blotch in the centre, and really 
one of the most satisfactory varieties in cultivation. Vigorous 
and tall, a free bloomer and producer of bulbs. While 
Sulphur King is a much deeper color, its flower is not more than 
half the size. 
Scribe: To me this is the best all-around variegated or 
mottled variety. The large, well opened 
flower on a good spike being tinted white, 
freely striped carmine: a pleasing combina- 
tion of colors. 
Most readers of The Garden Magazine 
must be familiar with the culture of Gladi- 
olus, which offers little difficulty even to the 
novice. Any good garden soil is suitable, 
covering the bulbs from three to five inches 
deep according to the nature of the soil: if 
very heavy three to four inches is plenty: if 
light and sandy five inches is better; some 
growers plant even deeper. This enables 
the bulb to take a firm footing to hold the 
spike up while in bloom, although many 
people prefer to stake the plants, especi- 
ally if only a few bulbs are grown. Whether they are 
planted in a straight row, in circles, or massed in a border, 
is a matter for individual taste. If one is going to plant several 
hundred Gladiolus principally for cut flowers, there is no better 
way than placing them in a double row with the bulbs four 
inches apart each way. This saves space and helps one to sup- 
port the other. As to fertilizer, the best results seems to come 
from thoroughly rotted manure incorporated well with the soil 
or with a moderate amount of bone meal. 
S OME twelve years ago some new aspirants for honors broke 
into the Gladiolus family under the type name of Primu- 
linus Hybrids and were immediately accepted as full fledged 
members. Each year they have become more and more popular 
because of their beautiful and dainty colors which range from 
sulphur to chrome yellow, and through all the shades of orange; 
now and then there is a cream or pink among them, but the 
nasturtium colors predominate. Their vivid coloring and their 
graceful spikes make them very artistic table or house decora- 
tions. 
These Hybrids have been evolved from the species G. prim- 
ulinus having a small flower of primrose yellow and with a 
decided “hood” effect; it was found in East Africa about 1890, 
and was at once seized upon by the hybridizers. 
While the Gladiolus “craze” has demanded large flowers in 
the regular type, in these Hybrids a small or medium-size 
flower seems to appeal. Furthermore, the bulbs are both in- 
expensive and easy to grow which makes it possible for every 
Gladiolus lover to have a generous stock so that, by various 
plantings, a continuous supply of flowers can be had. 
Some of the better ones have been selected out by the different 
growers, have been given names, and are being offered in the 
catalogues. Of these perhaps the most satisfactory are Alice 
Tiplady, Salmon Beauty, Sunbeam, Orange Perfection, L’Un- 
ique, Queen Victoria, Gold Drop. 
RAISING NEW GLADIOLUS 
H. S. Tillotson 
■ ^ FASCINATING as plant breeding is, there is no real 
1-^*4 mystery about it. An acquaintance with the plants 
that one seeks to improve, a few simple tools, and 
abundant patience are the only necessary equipment. 
The construction of the reproductive parts of flowers differs 
widely in the various families; some are very complex, others 
simple and easily distinguished. In the latter class is the 
Gladiolus, which with its wide range of colors and types offers 
exceptional opportunities to the amateur plant breeder. The 
construction of this flower is shown in the accompanying 
diagram. Note the three-parted stigma surmounting the 
pistil, and the three anthers at the tops of the stamens. 
A careful consideration of the merits of the varieties to be 
crossed is, of course, important. It is de- 
sirable to have several plants of each of 
the selected varieties, in order to give some 
latitude in the choice of suitable flowers. 
When a vigorous bud of the variety se- 
lected as the seed bearer is about ready to 
open its first petal, carefully remove (with 
the aid of sharp scissors) all the petals, 
except the uppermost one, which has been 
found useful in protecting the stigma from 
injury after a flower has been prepared 
for crossing. (The removal of the petals, 
it may be noted, is not absolutely neces- 
sary but it facilitates the operation.) 
The next step, called emasculation, is 
accomplished by the removal of the three 
Directly above are shown the 
various parts of the Gladiolus 
flower; top right, the flower after 
removal of the stamens etc. 
ready for the pollen; lower right, the seed 
pod which follows successful pollination 
