This ancient type is a very ordinary flower, and it seems almost
incredible that such superb varieties should have been produced
therefrom by cross-fertilization. In the hands of the French florists it
has attained to the superior position it occupies to-day. More than
forty years ago Mons. Souchet, head gardener at the Château of
Fontainebleau, first called attention to this flower, and began its
improvement, and although some few other French florists, such as
Messrs. Courant, Berger, Lamoine, Verdier and others followed his
example, yet nearly all of the varieties now in commerce in France, are
of the raising of that now venerable and respected private citizen. His
successors, Messrs. Soulliard and Brunelet supply the great French
houses of Paris, by whom the bulbs are forwarded to all parts of the
world. About thirty years ago Mr. Kelway of Longport, in Somersetshire,
began his culture and hybridizing of the flower, and has built up an
immense business. He devotes fifteen acres to Gladiolus exclusively, and
the number of seedlings annually raised is 200,000. In 1879-80, Mr.
Kelway exhibited eighteen named seedlings which were severally awarded
first-class certificates as possessing striking original
characteristics. Of our own eminently successful growers, Messrs.
Hallock and Thorp of Queens, N. Y., take the lead. They devote over
seven acres to Gladiolus, and raise thousands of seedlings.