Dyer, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., and a letter was brought back from that 
gentleman, of which the following is an extract: 
"December i, 1903. — Your beautiful specimen arrived in perfect 
condition and gave us all much pleasure. It is a Gladiolus of a type 
which is rather widely spread in Tropical Africa, and comes apparently 
very close to one named G. primuUnus, but from a horticultural point 
of view it seems to us quite unique and a brilliant discovery. I hope 
if you are disposed to part with any of them you will give Kew 
the first chance. It ought to be the starting point of a new 
race of garden Gladioli. I must congratulate you on the brilliant 
success of your cultural treatment, which could not have been 
surpassed here." 
Some of the corms were then sent, not only to Kew, but to the 
Physic Garden at Chelsea, to the Botanic Gardens at Cambridge and 
Edinburgh, to growers of Gladioli, such as Messrs. Kelway, Wallace, 
Groff of Simcoe, Canada; also to Holland, Belgium and the United 
States, as we felt that it would be in the interests of horticultvure and 
of all flower-loving people that the widest pubHcity should be ac- 
corded. It was illustrated in the Gardeners^ Magazine, September 3, 
1904, under the name of Maid of the Mist, and in the Botanical 
Magazine, June, 1906. 
We at once made attempts to hybridise the plant, crossing it with 
Gladiolus gandavensis and others, and in about three years we suc- 
ceeded in producing some of the most lovely results, the flowers 
ranging from pure white to butter yellow, rich carmine, reds, browns, 
cream tints, others with petals of yellow streaked with red. The 
vigour and physique of the Ghent parent were imparted to the fol- 
lowing generations, with the result that a height of 8 feet has been 
reached. The interesting fact that the hooded petal is retained and 
that the lovely yellow of the African plant is the predominant colour 
adds greatly to the beauty of the flowers. 
For decorative purposes we know of nothing to surpass this new 
addition to our flower garden. A few of these flowers in a suitable 
vase placed in the centre of a table with electric light faUing on it 
is an exquisite picture, and fully corroborates Sir William's prediction 
that G. primulinus would prove the commencement of an entirely new 
race of Gladioh. From the foregoing it will be seen that a period of 
seventeen years has elapsed from the date of its discovery to the time 
of these beautiful results. 
Sir Francis Fox, M. Inst. C. E. Reprint from The Garden of Sep- 
tember 20, igiQ. 
Mrs. Charles M. Hubbard, Louise S. Hubbard. 
Winnetka, 111. 
26 
