December, 1920 
Slower iBrower 
203 
Some of my corms had highly developed “buds” or eyes. I carefully cut 
these out with part of the corm adhering. They were planted in paper pots and 
treated as were the cormels. The results are given in Table II: 
GERMINATION OF “BUDS” OR EYES. 
Variety 
Time required 
for first to 
show growth 
(days) 
Time required 
for last to 
show growth 
(days) 
Per cent, 
germinated 
Per cent, 
harvested 
Diener’s American Beauty 
Evolution 
60 
65 
100 
100(x) 
0 
100(x) 
50 
100(x) 
0 
G. A. Kuyk . 
Ida Van _ 
Little Violet _ . 
Mrs. Frank Pendleton - 
(x) Corms were produced without growth of foliage. 
An attempt was made to increase stock of a few varieties. The corms were 
cut into pieces of one eye each and a part of the base of the corm. and treated 
as in the case of the cormels and “ buds ”. The data are given in Table III: 
GERMINATION OF CUT PIECES OF CORMS OF ONE EYE EACH. 
Variety 
Time required 
for first to 
show growth 
(days) 
Time required 
for last to 
show growth 
(days) 
Per cent, 
germinated 
Per cent, 
harvested 
Badenia . . - 
0 
Bleuatre . . . . 
15 
24 
100 
0 
Heliotrope . . 

0 
Megonko 
27 
30 
75 
50 
Mixture 
23 
26 
50 
50 
Peau Rouge - - 

0 
Portland __ .... 
-- 
-- 
... 
0 
Attempts to increase stock by means of “ buds ” and pieces of corms were 
not at all satisfactory, and appeared rather unreliable. In the case of peeled 
cormels, it is possible that greater success might have attended my plantings if 
they had been planted outside. 
Gladiolus Ideals. 
By Alfred C. Hottes, Ithaca, N.Y. 
Former Member of the Nomenclature Committee of 
the American Gladiolus Society. 
(In A. G. S. Program 1915.) 
A year or more ago over two hundred let- 
ters of query were sent to the members of 
the American Gladiolus Society, especially to 
the professional men. The answers to these 
were to give some indication regarding the 
ideals of a Gladiolus variety. It is the pur- 
pose of this paper to set forth a few of the 
points considered. In studying varieties in 
the trial grounds, the writer has attempted 
to describe each variety as it is without try- 
ing to say whether or not it is ideal. 
The Gladiolus hybridist saw from the be- 
ginning that the genus was a pliable one and 
that the species could be mixed together in 
such a way that the colors of one might be 
combined with the vigor, earliness, graceful- 
ness or prolificacy of others. Souchet, Le- 
moine, Groff, Kelway, Pfitzer, Crawford, Kun- 
derd, Van Fleet, Krelage, and many others, 
have had in mind a standard of size, vigor, 
precocity, color or novelty of form, and have 
reached their ideal in one measure or another. 
Let us then review the various ideals of the 
modern Gladiolus. 
In form the bloom should be quite round, 
the upper segment broader than the lower, 
though not greatly comrasted in size. The 
central petal of the upper segment mav be 
slightly arched, but it is not usually consid- 
ered best to be decidedly hooded. Generally 
the petals should be as broad as long, the 
three lower ones symmetrical, not smaller nor 
narrower than the upper ones. Good sub- 
stance is of prime importance. The petals 
should be leathery rather than thick and 
brittle. Clear colors as white, light pink, 
light or clear yellow and scarlet, are essential 
for commercial use. Blue is not so good in 
artificial light, and therefore is of little com- 
mercial demand. The darker colors are not 
de -arable for as many uses as are the lighter 
tints. The self colors are now desired. 
The markings found in the varieties are 
described as dots, tippling (very fine dots), 
splashes (long, irregular patches of color), 
feathering (fine markings, originating at outer 
edge of petals), mottling (irregular spots), 
blotches (regular large areas of color found 
on the lower petals in Lemoinei and other 
groups), penciling (fine lines in the throat, 
found especially in the Gandavensis and 
Childsii varieties), suffusion (colors, laid on 
as though they were painted upon another 
color', marbling (intermixed or clouded 
effects), blends (gradual transitions of one 
tone to another), dashes, flecking and velvety 
throats. Each of the wild species has con- 
tributed to this motley array of markings and 
diversified color. Where is there a flower 
with such avast calendar of markings? 
There is a difference of opinion regard- 
ing the question of doubling. Some hold that 
any new feature would add greatly to the 
popularity; others maintain that “simplicity 
rather than complexity is the most desirable 
characteristic to be sought.” Would it not be 
possible that the flowers would last longer if 
double, and thus be an advantage in a variety 
for landscape use ? Comparatively double or 
semi-doubles have arisen from time to time, 
but the fact that they have not been more 
exploited would indicate their lack of popu- 
larity. 
The spike should be long enough to cut 
ten or twelve inches below the blooms and 
still allow two or more leaves to mature the 
bulbs. It should be strong enough to hold all 
the buds erect until the last one has opened. 
The Lemoineis are reputed to be weak in the 
matter of taking up water, consequently not 
affording an opportunity for the last bud to 
open. Most admirers of the Gladiolus prefer 
a thin, wiry stem upon which a number of 
blooms are open at the same time and face 
one direction. Others prefer to have but one 
bloom open at a time, so that the spike may 
last longer. Curved spikes are admirable for 
vases and artistic effects, but are a nuisance 
to the commercial man for packing and 
handling. 
Branches are a decided advantage (1) for 
the landscape variety, (2) for the florist who 
uses the individual flowers for design work, 
and (3) for general decorative work. Their 
presence often indicates a strong grower, 
and is especially effective in the dwarf, sturdy 
varieties when the branches bloom at the 
same time as the main spike. Often in a tall 
variety the main spike can be cut above the 
branch, causing the branch to develop quite 
a good spike which can be cut later. How- 
ever, the secondaries may take the strength 
from the main spike, and their removal will 
help the principal one toward a more perfect 
development. For packing and shipping, or 
when used in bouquets and not blooming 
contemporary with the spike, the branches 
seem objectionable. 
Unless the growth is compact, heavy, erect 
and vigorous, few varieties are worth keep- 
ing because the greater share of the modern 
varieties are excellent in this resDect. It is 
especially advantageous to have two or three 
spikes per corm as each shoot will produce 
a corm for the next year. It is also 
desirable to obtain varieties of superior 
reproductive power, although some kinds of 
great prolificacy are the least admired. A 
short list of rapidly-multiplying varieties 
mentioned in the letters in order of their 
popularity, is as follows : 
America 
Mrs. Francis King 
A ugusta 
Panama 
Baron J. Hulot 
Independence 
Rose Red 
Klondyke 
Ta conic 
Jessie 
Niagara 
Brenchleyensis 
Velvet King 
Tracy’s Dawn 
Taconic 
Mrs. Frank Pendleton 
Chicago Whiie 
Peace 
This list does not contain all the most pro- 
lific ones, but is arranged according to the 
number of votes each received. 
In the enumeration of ideals, adaptability 
to great range of soils, disease resistance, 
non-fading qualities, blooming entirely around 
the stem, variegations of the leaves, smaller 
or larger flowers, fragrance, greater adapta- 
bility for forcing, hardiness, keeping quali- 
ties, number of blooms on the spike, and 
color or stems have been omitted. Cer- 
tain of these ideals are at present fulfilled, 
others will be attained, and still others are 
not worth seeking. Mr. Groff, at the Royal 
Horticultural Society Conference on Genetics 
in 1906, said : “* * * if the breeder uses his 
full opportunities, his ideal will be a progres- 
sive quality, and his standard will advance 
yearly as he sees the results attained by un- 
locking the treasuries of ages of the past in 
scientific, though unrecorded, practical plant 
breeding.” 
Prof. Hottes’ article above on Gladi- 
olus ideals brings up some very inter- 
esting points and good food for thought 
for originators of new varieties of 
Gladioli. Ideals develop from year to 
year and characteristics which would 
be pleasing this year will not satisfy 
next year. In other words, we are 
making continual progress tcward per- 
fection, and although we never reach 
perfection, we may hope some time to 
approach it. The development of the 
Gladiolus during the past ten years has 
been truly marvelous, and even in the 
five years which have elapsed since 
Prof. Hottes wrote the article referred 
to, tremendous strides have been made. 
The versatility of the Gladiolus in form, 
season and color can hardly be ap- 
proached by any other flower. 
The Editor. 
Exact records on Gladiolus growing 
are exceedingly helpful. We have a 
number in hand which will be published 
from month to month. 
