March, 1918 
29 
American Gladiolus Society Launches Big Spring Drive. 
Aggressive Methods Adopted by National Society to Broaden 
Appreciation for the Gladiolus. 
Ol)e J'lower (Brower 
O N FEBRUARY FIRST The Ameri- 
can Gladiolus Society at the direc- 
tion of its President, Mr. A. E. 
Kunderd, Goshen, Indiana, launched a 
five months’ campaign for member- 
ship. The present increase in garden 
interest manifesting itself throughout 
the country as a result of the nation’s 
call for food production to tillers of the 
soil, increased the number of amateur 
gardeners in this country over 600%. 
The next step in our gardening en- 
thusiasm will be the taking up of 
"Flower Growing as a Hobby and Re- 
laxation from the Stress of War.” 
Joseph J. Lane, 
Chairman Membership Committee 
American Gladiolus Society. 
The American Gladiolus Society has 
long been active in fostering intelligent 
garden activity under proper lines, and 
this campaign will be not alone a mem- 
bership campaign in the sense of having 
for its sole object the increase of mem- 
bers, but will as well undertake the 
fostering of increased Gladiolus grow- 
ing on the part of the American public. 
The campaign will be in able hands. 
The services of Joseph J. Lane, of 
Garden Magazine and Country Life have 
been secured, and he will lead the 
Membership Committee in their ac- 
tivity. Mr. Lane is known throughout 
the country among garden lovers 
through his connection with The Gar- 
den Magazine , and his active associa- 
tion with a number of horticultural 
societies and floral bodies. He was one 
of the founders of The American Dah- 
lia Society, and its first Secretary. His 
aggressive methods in the early days 
of this organization did much to estab- 
lish it on a solid footing on which it 
exists today. He secured over three 
hundred members in the first three 
months of the organization’s existence. 
A committee is being appointed com- 
prising a large number of the lead- 
ing Gladiolus dealers throughout the 
country, and all interested are invited 
to get in touch with the Chairman, or 
write to President Kunderd. Detail 
plans will be promulgated through 
bulletins issued from time to time, and 
results of the campaign announced as 
it progresses. 
The Executive Committee have au- 
thorized the waiving of the member- 
ship fee for the period of the campaign 
which is until June 1st. Anybody 
joining in that time need not pay the 
initiation fee, but simply the annual 
dues of $2.00 per year. 
Arrangements have been made with 
Madison Cooper, of Calcium, N. Y., 
who is Treasurer of the Society, to 
mail his paper, The Flower Grower 
to all members during the life of their 
membership. This publication, form- 
erly The Modern Gladiolus Grower, 
has been enlarged in size, and broad- 
ened in contents so as to become ex- 
tremely valuable to every flower lover, 
particularly to those who are interested 
in the culture of the Gladiolus. 
Professor A. C. Beal, of Cornell Uni- 
versity, is Secretary of the Society, 
and is undertaking to carry on an ex- 
tensive drive for members from his 
office, and has already produced a 
splendid increase. 
President Kunderd wishes it to be 
understood that he believes this year 
to be a most logical one for intensify- 
ing the work of all floral societies, be- 
cause of the conditions facing our 
country at the present time. Flower 
lovers are people of sentiment as well 
as action. Those who remain at home 
will need to continue their flower gar- 
dening as well as increase their vege- 
table and food stuff plantings for the 
poise that the occupation will bring to 
them. 
One of our correspondents offers the 
suggestion that diseased Gladiolus 
corms planted rather deeply are more 
likely to produce healthy stock than if 
planted shallow and explains this by 
suggesting that the disease producing 
germs or spores are washed further 
down in the soil and cultivation is less 
likely to throw contaminated ground 
around and next to the new corms. It 
might be that deep planting is best for 
diseased stock ; but if so, is it not 
more likely that it is because at a 
greater depth a cleaner soil which is 
more free from disease germs is to be 
found ? 
At one of the flower shows last year 
we noticed some confusion between 
the varieties Elizabeth Kurtz and Glory 
of Holland. It is quite apparent that 
Glory of Holland has been sold for 
Elizabeth Kurtz and possibly the re- 
verse is also true and Elizabeth Kurtz 
has been sold for Glory of Holland. 
Anyway we have grown Elizabeth 
Kurtz secured from a reputable grower 
which seems identical with Glory of 
Holland received from another grower. 
THE IRIS. 
[ IVtittm expressly for The Flower Grower.] 
CROWN ROT. 
Many have the mistaken idea that 
Iris require a moist location. German 
Iris require just the opposite, and a 
dry, sunny location suits them best. 
Their fleshy roots store up moisture 
so that they are capable of enduring 
the most severe drouth without injury. 
Some varieties of Iris (German) 
which have fine flowers are so subject 
to crown rot that it is almost impos- 
sible to grow them successfully. Ma- 
nure is the principle cause of this 
trouble, and I learned this by experi- 
ence. One winter we had severe 
weather without snow to protect them, 
and I mulched part of them with strawy 
manure. The following spring over 
one-half of those I mulched died. 
I have hoped to succeed with some 
of the varieties that are subject to this 
rot, and have planted them in the best 
locations in my nursery, but wherever 
planted they have been a failure. 
One writer advances the theory that 
too deep planting is the cause of this 
trouble. If deep planting was the cause 
it should affect all varieties alike — yet 
many varieties are not subject to this 
rot. 
There may be another name for it, 
but I call it crown rot. The plant rots 
at the crown, and the tops drop off the 
roots. The whole plant is seldom af- 
fected, and it does not kill them out- 
right. 
The German, Dwarf Bearded and 
Intermediate are the only Iris that I 
have ever noticed that were affected 
with this rot. 
VARIETIES RECOMMENDED. 
German Iris which are dependable 
and inexpensive: Aurea, Celeste, Comte 
De St. Clair, Fairy, Florentina, Ger- 
trude, Her Majesty, Honorabilus, John 
De Witt, Madam Chereau, Melvina, 
Mrs. H. Darwin, Parisensis, Perfection, 
Queen of Gypsies, Thyspe, Ulysee and 
Velveteen. 
Newer varieties of German Iris: Al- 
cazar, Black Knight, Caterina, E. Michel, 
Eldorado, Isoline, Lorely, Lohengrin, 
Monsignor, Mrs. Alan Gray, Nibelun- 
gren, Oriflane, Prosper Laugier, Prin- 
cess Victoria Louise and Rhein Nixie. 
Of the beardless Iris the following 
are good : Aurea, Longipetala Superba, 
Lord Wolseley, Kermesiana and Notiia. 
Ochroleuca Sulphuria is a lighter yel- 
low than Aurea, but is often sold for it. 
The best of many varieties of the 
Siberian Iris : Blue King, Grandis, Lady 
Godiva, Snow Queen and Superba. 
There are many varieties of Ameri- 
can origin which compare favorably 
with the best imported varieties. 
Willis E. Fryer. 
Join The American Gladiolus Society 
and be identified with an organization 
of nation wide scope and unquestioned 
purpose. Those who are real Gladi- 
olus enthusiasts should join from an 
unselfish motive. 
