Queens, N. Y., then the most extensive American bulb growers,
and for many years the stock was worked up by them in the most
painstaking manner. Before dissemination it was sold to J. L. Childs,
Floral Park, N. Y., who introduced it to general cultivation under the
name of _Childsii_. The true _Leichtlin Saundersii_ hybrids are
characterized by gigantic growth and very large richly colored
well-opened blooms with beautifully spotted and variegated throats.
Shades of red predominated at first, but light colors have since been
developed in a very satisfactory manner. The only just criticism of this
strain is that some kinds lack substance of petal and are not as lasting
as _Gandavensis_ varieties under similar trying conditions.

Lemoine soon afterwards produced a fine large flowered and brilliantly
colored race by crossing _Lemoinei_ hybrids with _Saundersii_. This race
was named _Nanceianus_ and comprises many truly beautiful varieties,
few, however, possessing the vigor of the _Leichtlin_ hybrids.

The next break of importance, also the work of Lemoine, came with the
use of _G. papilio_, pale lilac, blotched and overlaid with dull red. In
many of its hybrids the primitive colors have separated, resulting in an
attractive series of rich purple and heliotrope blues, quite new to the
genus. True bright blues, free from red and purple tones, have not yet
been obtained, but the blue kinds--issue of _Papilio_ and the _Lemoine_
varieties--are unique and desirable acquisitions.

_Gladiolus cruentus_, blood red and white, pollenized with a selected
_Childsii_ variety resulted in the magnificent scarlet hybrid
_Princeps_, acknowledged the first of its color yet produced. The latest
species of importance to be widely used is _G. Primulinus_, recently
found in the Zambesi Valley, South Africa. It is a vigorous species with
narrow blooms, pure bright yellow in color. The hybrids largely partake
of this coloring, and it appears only a matter of time when good
self-yellow varieties, comparable in size and finish to the best red and
pink kinds will be bred.

Minor Species.

A number of hybrids of _G. dracocephalus_, _G. Cooperi_ and _G.
Quartinanus_ have been offered of late years. These species are closely
allied to _Psittacinus_, but yellow, green and purplish shades, oddly
marked and striped, appear in the offspring. Some are curious and
attractive, but possess little value from the standpoint of the
commercial grower. _G.