PREFACE 



The American Gladiolus Society was organized at Boston. Massachu- 

 setts, on the 27th of Alay, 1910, and the first meeting was held at Roch- 

 ester, New York, in August of the same year. Among the objects of the 

 society were the following: " to establish a standard nomenclature; to 

 test out new varieties and give them the recognition they deserve; and 

 to disseminate information relating to this flower." 



Through a cooperative arrangement between the society and Professor 

 L. B. Judson, representing the Department of Horticulture at Cornell 

 University, the trial grounds of the society were located at Ithaca, New 

 York. On the resignation of Professor Judson, who was in charge of the 

 trials, the direction of the tests devolved on Professor John Craig, who 

 placed George J. Burt in charge of the detail work. Mr. Burt made the 

 notes in the field during 191 1, and in the greenhouse in the winter of 

 1911-12. Since March, 191 2, A. C. Hottes has had charge of the trials, 

 at first under the direction of Professor Craig and later under the super- 

 vision of the writer. On October i, 19 13, the Department of Floriciilture 

 at Cornell University was organized, and the gladiolus trials were con- 

 tinued as a part of the investigative work of the department. 



All the varieties included in these studies have been tested for more 

 than one season, and thus a more satisfactory estimate of the merits of 

 each variety has been obtained than would otherwise have been possible. 

 If the work has seemed prolonged, it is due in part to the unusual and 

 unavoidable changes in its supervision, but in larger measure to the 

 difficulty encountered in procuring stock of varieties suspected of being 

 synonymous with the varieties already known. 



The thanks of the American Gladiolus Societ}^ and of the Department 

 of Floriculture at Cornell are due to all who have assisted in the work 

 either by the donation of corms or by furnishing information. Those 

 connected with the trials are indebted also to the present and the former 

 officers of the society for their cooperation and support. 



The present bulletin is intended to trace the development of the gladi- 

 olus up to the present time. Succeeding bulletins will treat of its culture 

 and of the varieties that have been tested in the Craig gardens of the 

 New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University. 



Alvin C. Beal, 

 Professor of FloricuUural Investigations, Cornell University. 

 Chairman Nomenclature Committee, American Gladiolus 

 Society. 



