Some have derived their evidence from
one nursery, some from another, and the crosses evidently may have been
different in different places. The early history of the gladiolus is an
instance. The first crosses are recorded to have been made between
_Gladiolus_ [275] _psittacinus_ and _G. cardinalis_, and between their
hybrid, which is still known under the name of gandavensis_ and the
_purpureo-auratus_. But other authors give other lines of descent. So it
is with _Amaryllis_, which is said by De Graaff to owe its stripes to
_A. vittata_, its fine form to _A. brasiliensis_, the large petals to
_A. psittacina_, the giant flowers to _A. leopoldi_, and the piebald
patterns to _A. pardina_. But here, too, other authors give other
derivations.
Summarizing the results of our inquiry we see in the first place how
very much remains to be done. Many old crosses must be repeated and
studied anew, taking care of the purity of the cross as well as of the
harvesting of the seeds. Many supposed facts will be shown to be of
doubtful validity. New facts have to be gathered, and in doing so the
distinction between specific and varietal marks must be taken strictly
into account. The first have originated as progressive mutations; they
give unbalanced crosses with a constant offspring, as far as experience
now goes.
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