708 



The Weekly Florists' Review 



Jaxcabx 24, 1907. 



increased number of proofs as to the 

 correctness of the system of breeding ad- 

 vocated by me. I repeatedly collected 

 in the field new varieties of special merit, 

 supposing them to be the same, until 

 compared in detail, -when the transmitted 

 parental characteristics of each collec- 

 tion were distinctly traceable, but with 

 suflficient variation as to make each va- 

 riety valuable, each bearing distinctive 

 qualities of value under the diverse cul- 

 tural conditions to which they inevitably 

 must be subjected. 



It is not easy for me to illustrate to 

 you by comparative description the high- 

 est points of results claimed by me. If 

 you were all gladiolus experts it would 

 be much easier to secure your apprecia- 

 tion. One effective illustration will as- 

 sist, however. 



Colors Most in Demand. 



During the earlier years of my experi- 

 ence in securing commercial efficiency 

 the invariable cry was, "send no red 

 shades." In 1905 Mr. Cowee was of- 

 fered $5 for a single corm, and I was 

 offered $10 for one of the same variety 

 — a brilliant red — both offers being from 

 amateurs of moderate means, and I may 

 say that no such offer was ever made to 

 me for a variety of any other color. A 

 single spike of six flowers measures one 

 foot wide by two in length, and is so 

 effective as to center attraction in a field 

 of thousands of other varieties. This va- 

 riety is being rapidly multiplied for early 

 introduction, but you will be interested 

 in learning that I have types of later 

 origin that will supersede it in due time. 

 You will, of course, expect this additional 

 result. 



The commercial demand for high class 

 lights has now been filled by the thou- 

 sands of new varieties originated by me 

 during the first ten years of my work. 

 Selections bred from this material have 

 given me thousands of newer and more 

 advanced types, which have been crossed 

 and multiplied during the past five years 

 for future introduction, and will consti- 

 tute as marked and distinct an advance 

 as did those sliown at the expositions re- 

 ferred to. The value of some of these 

 is beyond estimate. 



The present commercial yellow is defi- 

 cient in color, quality and multiplying 

 qualities. This need will shortly be filled 

 by thousands of new varieties developed 

 by me under the same practice that pro- 

 duced the new light section, all varieties 

 of equal and greater quality than the 

 few novelties issuing from European 

 sources under name. 



All other desirable colors are receiving 

 the same attention and improvement by 

 the same system of selected breeding. 

 Among all of these are remarkable types 

 of promise beyond my expectations, in- 

 dividual varieties of such special quali- 

 ties as to be beyond description for want 

 of adequate comparison — suflficient to en- 



Greenhouse Bench Equipped with the Heim Carnation Support. 



sure your comprehension and apprecia- 

 tion of these results. 



I have referred to our geographical ad- 

 vantages, but these are by no means suffi- 

 cient for my personal realization of the 

 best commercial results. Although my 

 season is nearly a month longer than 

 even the northern part of our peninsula, 

 it is fully a month too short for the full 

 maturing of the cormels of many valua- 

 ble and useful varieties developed from 

 late maturing material. 



Origin of America. 



The variety named America, errone- 

 ously classified as Childsi by the pur- 

 chaser and introduced under that name, 

 has been grown and sold by me in col- 

 lections for the past ten years. Its an- 

 nual cormel production is from 2,000 to 

 5,000 per cent, but with me a compara- 

 tively small percentage mature annually. 

 In this state (Ohio), however, the con- 

 ditions are more favorable and its multi- 

 plication much more rapid in consequence. 

 Of course such experiences are to be ex- 

 pected in work on a semi-tropical plant, 

 and afford proof of my public conten- 

 tion on this point, many years ago, be- 

 fore this experience proved the correct- 

 ness of my then expressed theory. While 

 I have knowledge of many similar expe- 

 riences, the naming of this one of my 

 hybrids America has made that variety 

 useful as an illustration of a scientific 

 fact. 



Scientific Record. 



As I ha\e referred to the fact of scien- 

 tific results, I beg to record: 



That crossing from varieties tending 

 to double has induced the production of 

 twin corms from single seeds. 



That bud variation, partial the first 

 season and complete the second, has pro- 

 duced a fixed new type, sporting from 

 one of apparent equal fixity. 



That atavism of esthetic and commer- 

 cial value results from the intercrossing 

 of advanced types of diverse parental ex- 

 traction, the flower form of the iris, a 

 plant of the same natural order, having 

 been brought from the ages long past 

 and replacing the normal form of that 

 of the original Species. 



That racial qualities are as potent and 

 capable of direction in breeding for spe- 

 cific results in plant as in animal life. 



That no simple or limited crossing can 

 produce the value, quality and satisfac- 

 tion equal to those resulting from unlim- 

 ited removals from the wild species on 

 the lines of scientific selection, guided by 

 learned human intelligence. 



That the attainment of the highest suc- 

 cess in results is easily secured by culti- 

 vation of the perception, some learning, 

 an open mind, use of the best material, 

 and unlimited work. 



Springfield, III. — W. C. Garrard, sec- 

 retary of the State Board of Agricul- 

 ture, announces that the state fair for 

 1907 will be held at Springfield Septem- 

 ber 27 to October 5. It is to be "the 

 greatest fair on earth." 



Cleveland, O. — Plans are under way 

 for a large gladiolus exhibition to be 

 held at Euclid Beach during August, 

 when 50,000 gladiolus spikes are expected 

 to be shown. Prizes will be offered to 

 local growers. Arthur Cowee, Berlin, 

 N. Y., has promised a large display. 



Establishment of C C Wonneman, Mexico, Mo. 



