EXPERIENCE WITH GROFF'S GLADIOLI. 



To the Editor of American Gardening: 



No doubt thousands of your readers saw and admired the magnificent 

 display of Groff's Hybrid Gladioli that for many weeks was one of the 

 most attractive features of the Horticultural Building at the Pan-Ameri- 

 can Exposition, and it may interest those who contemplate trying them 

 another season to learn how they behave in the hands of an amateur 

 grower. Last spring I secured a thousand bulbs of the Groff Hybrids 

 from Mr. Cowee, of Berlin, N. Y., who is Mr. Groff's sales agent in the 

 States. The shipment arrived rather late in the season, and, my 

 garden space being pretty well occupied, I was obliged to plant the bulbs 

 very closely together. I gave them a thoroughly enriched soil, however, 

 and, notwithstanding their crowded condition, they produced a growth 

 of surprising vigor. I think that nearly every bulb gave me at least one 

 fine spike of bloom and many of them two or three. And such an infinite 

 variety of brilliant shades, tints and colors can only be imagined by those 

 who have seen the Groffs grown at their best. They lasted for several 

 weeks and were extravagantly admired by all who saw them. 



Nor is this all. No genuine lover of this popular flower need be told 

 that one of the principal joys of Gladiolus culture is the digging of the 

 bulbs in the fall and ascertaining how much, if any, his treasures have in- 

 creased. I have just dug my Groffs and find that my thousand bulbs gave 

 me a net increase of fully 40 per cent., and the size averages much larger 

 than the original stock. A goodly number of the bulbs produced five, and 

 some of them six, each larger than its parent bulb. It is needless to add 

 that I consider my purchase a most profitable and satisfactory investment. 



Avoca, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1901. EDGAR A. HIGGINS. 



The brilliant coloring of Groff's first section of Gladioli was a great 

 gain over existing hybrids. The seedlings sent me this season were very 

 robust, and show a good advance over the first section. I was particularly 

 interested in the blue and lilac shades. 



New York. R. R. STOCKDALE, Vice-Pres't. 



* * * * * 



Relative to the Groff's Hybrids bought of you last spring, this lot of 

 bulbs was planted early, and for that cause made a very favorable show- 

 ing. Later plantings were a failure, on account of the unprecedented hot 

 weather. Never such extreme heat in this section as this summer. The 

 lot of bulbs referred to made their growth early, and I have some fine ones 

 for next year. Groff's bulbs have always given me more than satisfac- 

 tion. 



Indiana. SAMUEL GRONDYKE. 



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