"Whatever success I have been permitted to achieve as the result of 
my labors, are gains to the world and to civilization ; they are new crea- 
tions, evolved from nothing; their original parents being simply weeds, 
in the eyes of the refined admirer of beautiful flowers. And like the 
product of the miner's toil, they are drafts upon the great treasure 
house of Nature, wronging and robbing no one; unlike the results of 
speculative competition, those mere exchanges of wealth too often be- 
sprinkled with tears of the widow and the orphan, or even the suc- 
cesses of legitimate commerce, seldom attained without grinding compe- 
tition, involving the very life-blood of struggling man." 
H. H. GROFF, before Provincial Association. 
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 
Buffalo, Sept. 25th, 1901. 
"I have been an interested observer of the work of Mr. Groff during 
the past ten years, and it is particularly worthy of commendation. His 
display of hybrid Gladioli at Buffalo is wonderful, and it is safe to 
say that the named varieties of five years ago sink into insignificance when 
placed alongside of his seedlings. Mr. Groff's Gladiolus exhibit is worth 
a visit to the Pan-American. It is at once an object lesson and an in- 
spiration." 
—PROF. JOHN CRAIG. 
^ *J* ^ 
Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 
(Extract from personal letter from Superintendent William Scott, De- 
partment of Floriculture Pan-American Exposition.) 
"And so ends the wonderful exhibit of Gladiolus which you have 
made for us at the Pan-American Exposition. To say that your display 
has been a great attraction for the past two months does not begin to ex- 
press what your display really has been. It has been the star feature of 
our horticultural exhibits, and from the expressions that I have heard 
from hundreds of visitors it has been one of the greatest attractions of 
the whole Exposition." 
—WILLIAM SCOTT. 
* ♦> 4* 4> <{• 
From Luther Burbank, to Mr. H. H. Groff: 
"I have watched your progress with the Gladioli, especially at the 
Pan-American, etc., and am delighted you have made such a glorious 
success of it. With the many discouragements of Plant Originators there 
is plenty of silver lining sooner or later." 
Santa Rosa, Cal., Jan. 2, 1902. 
