eecher, one of their grandparents, but with shorter spikes. In this
cross Princeps transmits the undesirable character of short spikes but
leaves out the abnormal size of flower, and the best characters of
America are lacking. The parentage of America is very much in doubt, as
three prominent gladiolus breeders claim the honor of originating it.

There are many characteristics to be considered when making selections
for breeding besides the color and size of the flower. The bulbs of some
varieties will stand considerable freezing while other varieties will
not. This same characteristic is noticed in the foliage. The severe
frost that killed our corn crop on August 30th so impaired Panama,
Hiawatha and some others that very few blooms of these varieties opened
afterwards. The foliage of some varieties remained green after a
temperature of twelve degrees below freezing.

A representative of a Holland bulb growing firm who called on me a few
days ago says that Niagara is a very weak grower in Holland and Panama
is a very vigorous grower. My experience with these varieties is just
the reverse. This seems to show that sometimes the difference in climate
may cause certain characters in the plant to act differently--if the
Hollander is not mistaken.

A few varieties are sometimes subject to blight and rust. Some are only
slightly affected, and many others are entirely blight proof.

There are so many characteristics to be considered by the scientific
breeder that it is almost impossible to enumerate them all in this
paper.

There is yet a great work to be done in breeding out the undesirable
traits and incorporating the improvements which we desire.

Civic Improvement.

MRS. ALBERTSON, PRES. CIVIC IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE, AUSTIN.

This is a subject so broad and so closely connected with "The City
Beautiful" one can hardly find a starting point, but we might begin with
the one word--civic--which has drawn to itself many minds, much sober
thought and from some much hard work.

The fear was widespread that woman would work havoc if she attempted to
spell the task, but how needless, for the word civic can be spelled with
accuracy from whichever end approached.

What was the beginning of the civic league and the city beautiful? It
began at home, where most women's work begins. To have a beautiful home
one must have the right kind of house. To have the beautiful house to
make the beautiful home the setting must be made