578 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec., 1899. 
Tins for permanent storage, and also for small quantities, may be used. 
For the latter purpose the lever-opening tins are much favoured. The honey 
is sae secure in them, and the lids are removed by the aid of a coin quite 
easily. 
Similar cans may also be used for larger quantities; but four holding 28 lb. 
each are, to my mind, much more convenient than two holding 56 Ib. each, or 
even one holding i12 1b. ‘The smaller sizes are more portable, and liquefying 
is quicker with small than large lots. 
Horticulture. 
THE GLADIOLUS. 
By G. WATKINS. 
(Read before the Horticultural Society of Queensland, 14th November, 1899.) 
Havine promised to prepare a paper for reading at one of the meetings of this 
society, I thought this beautiful and greatly admired flower would prove a good 
subject especially to read when the flower was in bloom, as now, and when a 
good collection of cut blooms could be gathered together for illustration. The 
exhibits now on the table before you, grown by members of this society, are, T 
think, an ample justification for my choice of subject. 
The Gladiolus (or Corn Flag) belongs botamically to the Ins family, and 
has for close family connections the Jxiv, Sparaxsis, Watsonia, Tribonia, Urocus, 
Tigridia, &e. ; 
The name is derived from the Latin, little sword, in allusion to the shape 
of the leaf. Gladiator is a word of kindred derivation. 
The genus comprises about 130 species of perennial herbs, with corms and 
linear or sword-shaped leaves. The flowers are borne on a two-rowed spike, 
more or less distinctly marked, and consist of a six-parted perianth, with short 
curved tube and oval unequal segments ‘The three stamens, frequently highly 
coloured, and adding to the beauty of the flower, are inserted on the perianth 
tube. The ovary is egg-shaped, the style long and thread-like, with three 
stigmas. The perianth tube is well stocked with nectar, and much visited by 
bees. The capsule is leathery, three-celled, containing many seeds more or less 
winged. 
Fifteen species are natives of Europe and Western Asia, the others being 
natives of the Cape and tropical Africa. Southern Africa—comprising Cape 
Colony, Natal, &c.—is the great home of the Gladiolus and its kindred tribes, 
and just now the hillsides and veldts are clothed with spring verdure; and the 
native forms of Gladioli and their allies, so well known under the general term 
of “Cape Bulbs,” should be in full flower. 
The corms of several varieties furnish part of the food of the baboons, and 
. those of G@. eudalis are roasted and eaten by the natives of interior South 
Africa; but, as a rule, though containing much starch, the juices are too acrid 
to permit of the corms being used for food. 
Three hundred years ago only the European species, G. communis, a native 
of the south of France, and a closely allied species, G. segetum, a native of 
Southern Europe, were the only ones known to civilisation, but they were 
seldom cultivated in gardens. G. byzantinus was introduced from Turkey in 
1629, but the chief introductions were made from the Cape about the middle of 
the last century. 
About 30 species, and as many varieties, are listed by Miller in his dic- 
tionary of plants, 1757. 
