Extract from the Florest Exchange (an unquestioned authority) of issue 

 Sept. 20th, 1902.) 



The Meadowvale Farm of Arthur Cowee, of Gladiolus fame, is situate 

 in the hamlet of Berlin, N. Y. ; and, although somewhat removed from 

 regular roads of travel, the Gladiolus industry is an attraction that brings 

 many flower lovers to Berlin during the plant's flowering season. 



It was our privilege on the first of September to ramble over the fields, 

 and note the Gladioli in their many different hues ; and, although it was 

 perhaps a week or ten days too late for the fields to be viewed at their best, 

 the sight presented was well worth the journey. 



As is well known, the varieties of Gladiolus grown here are principally 

 those now known to the trade as Groff's Hybrids. When we entered the 

 field it was our intention to note and try to describe some of the newer 

 creations; but the varieties are so multitudinous, and of such excellent 

 merit generally, that they can only be referred to in sections; and we 

 can now easily appreciate Mr. Groff's system of refraining from naming 

 his varieties. There are so many that would be worthy of a name, should 

 that system be adopted, that it would be impossible to find appellations for 

 them all. 



Before entering further into the subject, we ought to say that Mr. 

 Cowee is a life-long enthusiast on Gladiolus, and for the past ten years he 

 has been growing them extensively. Now, ten years' cultivation and close 

 observation of any one particular flower must necessarily give one a fair 

 understanding of the subject in hand, and although all the new European 

 varieties are grown and tested carefully, as well as the several well-known 

 American strains, Mr. Cowee does not hesitate to say that Groff's Hybrids 

 lead all others. To some that may seem a very broad statement, as there 

 are now several other beautiful types of Gladiolus that are well-known com- 

 mercially; but if we look closely into the matter we must admit that Mr. 

 Cowee is justified in his opinion. Let us take diversity of color, for in- 

 stance. There was one block of a light-colored section — probably about 

 two acres. We cut fifty spikes indiscriminately from the ends of the rows 

 nearest the path. When these fifty spikes were closely examined it was 

 found that there was only one duplicate among them. All were light col- 

 ored in the strictest sense of the word ; and, excepting one, they were all 

 dissimilar. In that block there were at least 500 different varieties. So 

 much for color variation. 



With respect to constitutional vigor, this is perhaps their very strong- 

 est point. When seen growing in close proximity to other strains, Groff's 

 Hybrids all flower, and every bud will open and fully develop. It is also 

 very noticeable that the very small bulblets, or cormels, of these hybrids 

 have a propensity for flowering while very young ; of one block of such 

 cormels that, when planted, were from £| to % of an inch in diameter, 90 

 per cent, had flowered. 



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