September, 1919 t3l)e Slower (Brower 
American Gladiolus Society. 
Annual Exhibition and Meeting at Detroit, Aug. 19th to 21st. 
The tenth annual meeting of the 
American Gladiolus Society was held 
in the parlors of Hotel Statler, Detroit, 
Mich., at 10 A. M., August 20th, 1919, 
with President Kunderd in the chair. 
The attendance was larger than at any 
previous meeting in our history, and the 
interest manifested is a good sign of 
the future of our Society. The Presi- 
dent read his address and the reports 
of the Secretary and Treasurer were 
received. These reports showed the 
Society in good condition and growing 
in membership. Very few members 
had failed to send in their annual dues 
and it was expected that a majority of 
those not yet paid would soon do so. 
The election of officers for the next 
two years resulted as follows : 
President — H. E. Meader, Dover, N.H. 
Vice President — C. R. Hinkle, St. 
Joseph, Mich. 
Secretary — A. C. Beal, Ithaca, N.Y. 
Treasurer — Madison Cooper, Cal- 
cium, N. Y. 
A change in the constitution of the 
Society was recommended by the com- 
mittee which was empowered to pre- 
pare a new constitution, to the effect 
that three members of the Executive 
Committee be elected ; one to serve 
for one, one for two and one for three 
years and in the future one member be 
elected for a term of three years. The 
intent of this is to make the Executive 
Committee a continuous body. This 
change in the constitution was ap- 
proved and the election resulted as fol- 
lows : 
Joe Coleman, Ravenna, Ohio, for 
three years. 
Lee R. Bonnewitz, Van Wert, Ohio, 
; for two years. 
I. S. Hendrickson, Flowerfield, N. Y., 
for one year. 
It was voted to eliminate the initia- 
tion fee and to keep the annual dues 
at two dollars as heretofore. 
Mr. Vinson of Cleveland, Ohio, ex- 
tended an informal and cordial invita- 
tion to the Society to hold its next 
annual meeting and exhibition with 
the Society of American Florists in 
Cleveland, Ohio. President Meader 
spoke of the advantages of holding the 
next meeting in Boston, Mass., and the 
Secretary read a letter from Mr. 
Scheepers on the desirability of hold- 
ing the next exhibition in New York 
City. After considerable discussion it 
was voted to hold the next meeting in 
Cleveland, Ohio, provided the Execu- 
tive Committee could make satisfac- 
tory arrangements with the representa- 
tives of the Cleveland Florist’s Club 
who are in charge of the arrangements 
for entertaining the Society of Ameri- 
can Florists. 
Mr. Vinson spoke on the Publicity 
campaign of the Society of American 
Florists and urged that the American 
Gladiolus Society co-operate. After 
some discussion the sum of one hundred 
dollars was voted for this purpose. 
All the discussions were replete with 
suggestions which it is hoped will aid 
in the future in increasing the useful- 
ness of the Society. The need of more 
and larger prizes, except Gladiolus 
corms, was urged by more than one 
speaker. 
After an interesting session lasting 
more than two hours, the meeting ad- 
journed. 
A. C. Beal, Sec’y. 
President’s Report for 1918-1919. 
It is certainly a great pleasure to me to 
meet with the American Gladiolus Society 
this year and especially so since our mem- 
bers and growers have been so successful in 
staging such a magnificent collection of 
Gladioli. There can be no question of the 
success of the future of our Society, and 
the future of the Gladiolus in the hands of 
such an enthusiastic organization. It is 
now ten years since our Society was organ- 
ized in Boston, and its success is no longer 
in doubt. How can it be otherwise when we 
are at work with the grandest flower that 
grows. 
Although the Gladiolus does not possess 
the sweet odor of the Carnation and Rose, it 
far outrivals them both in its gorgeous stateli- 
ness and great variety of forms and color. The 
Gladiolus has been so busy in working out 
an unequalled color scheme and newer types 
that it has not had time to acquire sweet 
odors, but some of our successful originators 
will undoubtedly be able in the future to 
also teach it that very refined accomplish- 
ment. 
We are only beginning to generally appreci- 
ate in this country the beauty and pleasure 
of our gardens and home ornamentation 
and surroundings with plant life, and no 
other flower will be more popular and widely 
known than the Gladiolus. Its ease of cul- 
ture, certainty of blooming, and its general 
adaptability to almost every soil and climate 
will certainly give it first place in the floral 
world and popular esteem. It requires ex- 
perts to grow beautiful Roses or Carnations, 
or a marvelous Orchid, or grand Chrysan- 
themums in most parts of our country, but 
any child can grow some beautiful Gladioli 
almost anywhere. Then no wonder all the 
world is catching the enthusiasm of our 
members for this wonderful flower. Each 
year will find its popularity increased by 
leaps and bounds until it will be grown in 
countless millions. 
This brings me to the consideration of 
bulb prices for the coming year. Perhaps 
some of our members would like to discuss 
this question at this meeting. 
Another question of importance to our 
members is the consideration of the much 
discussed and cussed question of the Quar- 
antine Act No. 37. 
In conclusion, I wish, in behalf of our So- 
ciety, to extend my thanks and appreciation 
to both our Secretary, Prof. Beal, of Cornell 
University, and Mr. Madison Cooper, pub- 
lisher of that valuable floral magazine. The 
Flower Grower. I also wish fo thank the 
Society and express my appreciation of the 
honors conferred upon me by its members. 
A. E. Kunderd, President. 
Secretary’s Report for 1918-1919. 
It is with pleasure that I present my 
second annual report. The American Gladi- 
olus Society is in excellent condition and 
growing in membership. Glancing through 
the old reports it appears that the largest 
number of names ever carried on the books 
87 
was 210 and so far as I can discover 172 
paid up members was the largest number 
ever reported at any annual meeting. It 
seems that when this Society ceased to pub- 
lish the bulletins, the membership dwindled. 
In 1917 the late Secretary reported 171 
names on the books. However, when I took 
over the work I found but 83 paid-up mem- 
bers. The active membership campaign in- 
augurated by the Society in the spring of 
1918 brought the membership up to a higher 
level than ever before. Last year the Secre- 
tary reported a total membship of 265, of 
which 166 were new. These were all paid 
up, and there were some old members who 
it was thought could be counted upon to re- 
new their memberships as soon as conditions 
became normal. During the year the 
membership rose to 280. Since some of 
these came in under very liberal induce- 
ments and represent beginners in Gladiolus 
growing, it is not improbable that a few of 
them may not renew for 1919-1920. The 
number ought not to be very large, how- 
ever, for in The Flower Grower the So- 
ciety is giving the members a definite return 
comparable to that made by the American 
Rose Society to its members. 
The question of undertaking the publicity 
campaign is one which should be discussed 
at this meeting. It would seem that we 
ought to have at least 500 members. Should 
we have life memberships, placing the dues 
from this in a permanent fund ? 
Some rules or regulations should be made 
governing the award of our medals to other 
societies for exhibitions. No requirements 
are now made whether any of these societies 
have a definite number of American Gladi- 
olus Society members in their ranks. It 
would seem to your Secretary desirable to 
make this requirement, although we should 
encourage local societies to have Gladiolus 
exhibitions. These questions might be con- 
sidered by the executive and exhibition com- 
mittees and action taken if the Society ap- 
proves. 
This year the.Society returns to its former 
custom of holding the annual meeting and 
exhibition with the Society of American 
Florists and Ornamental Horticulturists. 
Many of our members believe that such an 
arrangement is helpful to both organizations, 
and our experience this year would seem to 
strengthen this opinion. Next year the S. 
A. F. & O. H. meet in Cleveland, Ohio, and 
the question of our next meeting place 
should be discussed with reference to the 
advisability of holding our meeting again in 
the West. 
The Society lost one member by death 
during the past year. Mr. Emlyn M. Gill, 
Larchmont, N. Y., President of the Gill En- 
graving Company, was one of our new mem- 
bers who did not live to have the opportunity 
or the pleasure of meeting with the Society. 
Among the devoted adherents of the Gladi- 
olus was Mr. W. W. Wilmore, Jr., of Denver, 
Col., who gave his life to his country while 
in the service in France. His writings form 
a valuable contribution to the literature of 
this flower and undoubtedly stimulated the 
interest of a great many persons in the 
merits of the Gladiolus. His enthusiasm 
and unbounded energy in behalf of floricul- 
ture in the West will be missed very much. 
Let us hope that among those whose candles 
were lighted at his flaming torch of floricul- 
tural leadership, there may come forth lead- 
ers worthy to carry forward the work of 
telling interestingly the story of the culture 
of flowers. 
A. C. Beal, Sec’y. 
Owing to lack of space we are unable 
to give a full report of the winners in 
the non-commercial classes in this issue 
of The Flower Grower, but expect to 
cover it fully in the October number. 
[ Continued on page 94. J 
