1 Dec., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 579 
The more important species, such as have been cultivated and used for 
hybridising purposes, are:—G. tristis, introduced in 1745; G. recurvus, in 
1758; G. villatus, in 1760; G. blandus, in 1774; G. floribundus, in 1788; G. 
cardinalis, in 1789; G. grandis, G. viperatus, and G@. versicolor, in 1794; G. 
alatus and G. cuspidatus, in 1795; G. papilio, in 1866; G. cruentus, in 1868; 
G. purpurea-auratus, in 1872; and G. brachyandrus, in 1879—-the latter from 
Central Africa. 
Other late introductions have been G. quartinianus, a yellow variety from 
Abyssinia; G. Kotochyanus, a bright lilac purple from Afghanistan; and @ 
Watsonioides, from Eastern Africa. 
The species G. Saundersi, dracocephalus, and Coopert were sent to Mr. 
Saunders about 1865 from South Africa by his collector, Mr. Cooper. The former 
is one of the most remarkable of the species, and has flowers of intense scarlet 
with spotted white throat and of the largest size; ithas been extremely useful 
in the hands of the hybridiser. 
G. ramosus, the branching Gladiolus was introduced from Holland about 
1836, but there is a doubt whether it is a species or hybrid. 
A few of the native species haye considerable beauty; but the greater 
number are comparatively insignificant in size, form, and the colour of the 
flower. ‘They are seldom to be met with in gardens, excepting those of a strictly 
botanical character. However, it is from them, and chiefly from those enume- 
rated, that the garden varieties of to-day have been produced by cross- 
fertilisation in the hands of skilled Belgian, Dutch, Irench, and English 
hybridists. 
G. cardinalis, the Scarlet Gladiolus, considered in itself a hybrid by some 
authorities, has been the great foundation species in this direction. It isrecorded 
as being first flowered in a Kensington nursery in 1790. When grown under 
favourable conditions it is about 4 feet high, and generally sends out from near 
the top five or six branches, each bearing from six to eight scarlet flowers with 
a white diamond-shaped spot on each division. _1t crosses more freely than any 
other species, and about sixty years ago, it is said, with G@ Psittacinus, produced. 
the G. gandavensis or Ghent Gladiolus, the great common parent of the 
hybrids we now have. he credit of this production is given to M. 
Bodinghaus, gardener to the Duke of Arenberg, from whom it passed into the 
hands of Louis Van Houtte, the great Belgian horticulturist. 
G. brenchley-nsis (Brenchley’s Gladiolus) is of similar origin. 
Crossed with G. ftristis was derived G. Oolville’, with its variety alba, 
better known as the “bride.” This is a very popular variety for pot culture 
and for cut flowers. With the introduction of gandavensis, the difficulty of 
crossing species was largely superseded. It crosses readily with any of the 
species, hence the great importance of its introduction. 
Later on, Lemoine, of Nancy, by crossing @. gandavensis with G. purpurea 
auratus, a native of Natal, obtained his variety Zemoine?, and with it the 
foundation of another family distinguished chiefly by the introduction of a 
purple spot or blotch on the red. yellow, and white varieties. This family is 
now well known as the Lemoinei blotched or hutterfly hybrids, and is marked by 
a much extended range of colour and a more open type of flower. ‘Ihe stalk, 
however, is much more slender than in the gandavensis strain. 
Crossing this type again with G, Saundersi, the same grower has developed 
another race known as the nanceianus strain. This has a more open bloom still, 
with larger and wider petals and a wide range of brilliant colours. 
Of later years Lemoine has been developing a decidedly blue-coloured 
strain of this favourite flower, and has produced a large class with a ground 
colour of lavender, blue, violet, and purple, with blotches generally darker in 
tint. They seem, however, to be rather delicate in constitution. 
Max Leichtlin, of Baden, raised a line of seedlings by crossing and 
recrossing G. gandavensis and hybrids with G@. Saunders, and the stock was 
afterwards sold, and found its way to the United States, where they came finally 
mto the hands of Mr. G, W. Childs. This grower has further developed them, 
