16 
February, 1919 
Slower (Brower 
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Z3l)e Slower (Brower 
1 PUBLISHED MONTHLY ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH BY I 
| MADISON COOPER, CALCIUM, N.Y. j 
FOR BOTH AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL FLOWER GROWERS 
§ Subscription Price : OUR MOTTO: Canadian and Foreign | 
| $1.00 per year, Special favors to none, and a Subscription Price | 
| 3 years for $2.00. square deal to all. $1.25 per year. | 
Growers are invited to contribute articles or notes over their own 
signatures, but the Editor reserves the right to reject anything which 
in his judgment is not conducive to the general welfare of the business. 
Copyright lOli) hg Madison Cooper 
The contents of THE FLOWER GROWER, formerly “ The Modern Gladiolus 
Grower” are covered by general copyright. Permission is given to editors to use not 
more than one-third of any article providing proper credit is given at the beginning or 
end of such quotation, as follows: “ From THE FLOWER GROWER, Calcium, N. Y." 
Special permission necessary for reprinting illustrations , long extracts or articles entire. 
Vol. VI February, 1919 No. 2 
“ He who sows the ground with care and diligence acquires a 
greater stock of religious merit than he could gain by the 
repetition of ten thousand prayers.’’— Zoroaster. 
Cut Flowers by Parcel Post. 
Gladiolus growers have not, we believe, sufficiently ap- 
preciated, or if they do appreciate, they have not used the 
idea of sending cut flowers by Parcel Post to demonstrate 
the quality of bloom which may be expected from the 
planting of any given variety. The rate of postage is now 
low for distances up to several hundred miles or even more, 
and merchandise by Parcel Post is handled with such 
celerity that cut Gladioli may he sent for long distances, 
even up to 1000 miles with perfect success. 
Special Parcel Post boxes may now be obtained of the 
telescope pattern and made of extra heavy cardboard, 
which if the cut bloom is properly packed and tied in are 
almost altogether safe for the distances above mentioned. 
We know of one experience where the sending out of up- 
wards of fifty boxes containing from twenty to thirty spikes 
of Gladioli resulted in practically no complaint and many 
expressions of extreme satisfaction and gratitude. These 
were sent, as we remember it, for distances up to 400 to 500 
miles. 
If you want to demonstrate the beauty of bloom which 
is possible do it by sending the actual flowers. 
Vitality of Gladiolus Seed. 
Last year we reported the result of testing of old Gladi- 
olus seed by H. E. Meader, Dover, N. H. This year we again 
sent Mr. Meader some of the seed and he has tested it in 
the greenhouse. He reports so far as he can see a perfect 
germination. The question is how long will Gladiolus seed 
retain its vitality ? This is seed of the year 1915. It has 
been kept right here in the office in a high temperature and 
a dry atmosphere. Mr. Meader suggests that the quantity 
of seed available for testing may give out before its vitality 
is exhausted. Well, we have enough seed left yet for a 
couple of years anyway and it surely is interesting infor- 
mation to Gladiolus growers to know that seed retains its 
vitality stored under dry conditions for at least three or 
four years. 
Experiences of this kind are extremely interesting. The 
longevity of the vital principle of seeds has been given 
comparatively little attention in the past and not anywhere 
near the attention that it deserves. Such tables as are 
available on the subject are very meagre indeed and cover 
but few of the great number of varieties of seeds. 
Gladiolus Trade Conditions. 
The florist trade papers report that the sales of Gladiolus 
corms have been exceptionally good this year and that the 
market is strong. They are also reporting that because of 
the approaching plant quarantine mentioned in our January 
issue, that Holland will send over large quantities of stock, 
especially bulblets. They report further that it is believed 
that much of the stocks of Gladiolus corms have been sold 
by the actual growers of same and that there is a tendency 
for an advance in prices. 
All of which is interesting if true. There is no doubt 
but what there is a tendency toward higher prices, but this 
we believe is based on an improved demand, higher labor 
costs and a comparative shortage of stock rather than be- 
cause the stock has been bought up from growers and that 
there is an attempt to corner the market. Whether Holland 
stock will come in in time or in quantities enough to ser- 
iously affect the market remains to be seen. If the Holland 
growers are sending over large quantities of bulblets to be 
grown here this will put the trade in American hands where 
it can be more accurately gauged and at the same time it 
will eliminate to a great extent the foreign competition 
which American growers have bitterly complained of in 
times past. 
One of our valued correspondents in the west writes with 
reference to his experience with Gladiolus Golden Measure. 
He says that while it does not make a strong plant growth, 
yet it has proved altogether healthy under his conditions 
and that seven bulbs produced eleven bulbs and more than 
450 bulblets. It would seem, therefore, that the popular 
impression that Golden Measure was weak and subject to 
disease may be an error, and surely it is subject to excep- 
tions anyway. Golden Measure is a very beautiful yellow 
variety and if it can be developed into a healthy state it will 
make an important addition to the yellow varieties of 
Gladioli. 
Edward Y. Teas. 
The death of Edward Y. Teas, well known to readers of The 
Flower Grower as a frequent contributor, occurred at his home at 
Eaton, Ohio, on December 15th, 1918. He was in his eighty-eighth 
year. His death was hastened by a fall in his garden which occurred 
last summer and which was brought on by the extreme heat. He 
failed rapidly since Thanksgiving Day, but his mentality was un- 
clouded to the last. 
Mr. Teas had a very long experience in the nursery business, 
something like seventy-five years, and his interest in everything 
pertaining to his life work continued into his declining years. A 
brief sketch of Mr. Teas was given in the June, 1918, issue of The 
Flower Grower and at that time we offered the suggestion that 
as an example of helpfulness the writings of Mr. Teas at his ex- 
treme age was almost without a parallel. 
Among the valuable services rendered to the public by Mr. 
Teas was the introduction of the American Ever-blooming Hydrangea 
and Catalpa speciosa. He maintained one of the largest collections 
of Gladioli, Lilacs, &c., in the United States ; also leading fruits. 
Mr. Teas was charter member of the American Association of 
Nurserymen, assisted in organizing the Indiana Horticultural So- 
ciety in 1860 and was otherwise prominent in association work re- 
lating to his particular line of work. A very good photograph of 
Mr. Teas appeared in the June, 1918, issue of The Flower Grower 
above referred to. 
The life of Mr. Teas, and especially his great activity during 
what many people are pleased to call “ declining years,” should be 
a great example for all of us. Few people indeed do as much as 
they should nor do they do as much as they reasonably can without 
risking their health. In fact, hard work and activity usually mean 
long life, happiness and honor. 
