AMERICAN GLADIOLUS SOCIETY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 16, 19 October 1910, Page 40

AMERICAN GLADIOLUS SOCIETY.

A Gladiolus Society was established at Boston on May 27 last. At the inaugural meeting an interesting paper was read by Mr. H. Youell, of Syracuse, New York, on “The Gladiolus as we Knew and Grew It Fifty Years Ago.” The communication was of especial interest, as Mr. Youell’s father was one of the largest growers of gladioli in England half a century ago, and was responsible for the introduction of gladiolus brenchleyensis about the year 18(>0. The plant was found by Mr. W. Casey, one of Mr. Youell’s foremen, in a cottage garden at the village of Brenchley, in Kent, to

which locality it had apparently been brought from Africa by a sailor-son of the owner. The variety became immensely popular, and between 1860 and J 864 the sales from Mr. Youell’s nurseries nt Great Yarmouth amounted to about 300,000 corms annually. That the giadious is a flower capable of great posibilities is obvious to all who have policed the vast improvement in form, colour and other qualities, which has l»een accomplished in recent years in the gaud* vensis section alone. Much rejnalns to be done with the Lemoinei and Childsii hybrids, as well as with other forms, and we wish the Society every success in its work.