Quartinanus_ is a very late bloomer and may
produce varieties extremely useful for mild climates where the seasons
are sufficiently long to form bulb development. _G. Eckloni_ is a rare
species with small whitish blooms, minutely dotted with black purple.
The hybrids have mostly purple or red ground colors flecked with darker
shades. They are exceedingly attractive, but do not increase with
sufficient rapidity to possess great value. _G. vitatus_, an early
blooming, dwarf species, has yielded some charming porcelain and salmon
colored garden varieties, of rather small size, however. _G.
Leichtlini_, scarlet and yellow, allied to _Saundersii_, when crossed
with _cruentus_, is a striking brilliant crimson hybrid of much vigor,
but when blended with other species entirely loses its individuality.
The list may be extended, but enough has been said to indicate the
great possibilities inherent to the use of wild species as a means of
adding attractive new features to highly developed garden strains.

Summary.

The gladiolus, in its European species at least, has been in garden
cultivation for quite 400 years.

The African forms first found their way to Europe about 1745 and new
ones have since been constantly added. The genus now numbers almost 150
species.

_The first_ marked improvement, from the garden standpoint, came with
the introduction from Holland, about 1785, of _G. cardinalis_, one of
the reputed parents of _G. Gandavensis_. The true origin of _Cardinalis_
has never been ascertained.

In 1840 _G. Gandavensis_ was raised in Belgium from seed of _G.
psittacinus_, an African species supposed to be pollinated with
_Cardinalis_, but more, likely with _G. oppositiflorus_, which the
progeny of _Gandavensis_ more closely resembles.

From 1845 until 1880 _Gandavensis_ seedlings or "French Hybrids" held
full sway in gardens. More than 400 varieties have been named,
comprising some of the most highly prized of all garden kinds.

Lemoine introduced in 1878 his justly celebrated hybrids between
Gandavensis and _G. purpureo-auratus_, known as _Lemoinei_.

The _Nanceianus_ strain, crosses between _Lemoinei_ and _G. Saundersii_,
was introduced in 1889.

_Childsii_, originated by Max Leichtlin, Germany, was first disseminated
in 1893. It consists of hybrids of _G. Saundersii_ pollinated with the
finest Gandavensis varieties.

Lemoine's New Blue was first exhibited at the Chicago Exposition 1893
and placed on sale the