August, 1918 t3l)e Slower (Brower 
Late Blooming Gladioli which Received 
a First Class Certificate in Holland. 
O NE OF OUR advertisers, K. Vel- 
thuys, of Holland, sends us an 
article from Bloembollencultuur, 
a trade paper especially for the 
bulb trade in Holland, and we are 
pleased to reprint this entire, as giving 
the opinion of the Holland growers or 
at least the opinion of whoever wrote 
the article, on not only a few of our 
American varieties but a number of 
the Holland varieties, a part of which 
are well known in this country and some 
of which are very little known here. 
The translation, while not in classical 
English, yet is plain enough to read 
and we have not attempted to do much 
with changing it for this reason. 
Since the institution of our floral commit- 
tee, no less than 19 late flowering Gladioli 
(among which were two Primulinus Hybrids ) 
got a first class certificate, and it seems to us 
interesting enough, to see which of these ex- 
cellent flowers kept also high worth for the 
cultivation. The varieties are: 
Europa (1911), Glory of Noordwijk (1912), 
Panama (1912), Red Emperor ( 1912), Sieger 
(1912), Badenia (1913), Electro (1913), Lie- 
besfeuer (1913), Pink Perfection (1913), Prince 
of Wales (1913), Loveliness (1914), Madam 
Monnet Sully (1914), White Giant (1914), 
Flora (1916), Majestic (1916), Mrs. Velthuys 
(1917), Mrs. Frank Pendleton (1917), Primu- 
linus Jane (1914), Scarletta (1917). 
Among these are three of no worth for us, 
because they are not grown here any more 
in quantities ; they are Sieger, Badenia , Mad. 
Monnet Sully. The latter, a very fine creamy 
white Gladiolus with orange scarlet spot, has 
been imported from the foreign countries 
and will be certainly found there in large 
quantities. It is to be grown here, but gives 
only few corms. Sieger and Badenia are diffi- 
cult to grow here, which is a pity, especially 
for Badenia, the color being so distinct. 
Europa is surely one of the best white 
Gladioli, though it is hard to grow. In 
sandy soil it does not grow very well, but a 
little better in heavy soil, especially in clay. 
Glory of Noordwijk has startled the whole 
Gladiolus world in its time. The finely 
formed blooms of a soft yellow tint drew 
everybody’s attention wherever it was shown 
and now we fear that Glory of Noordwijk 
will follow Sieger and Badenia within a few 
years. This would be a great pity as Glory 
of Nordwijk is a Holland-grown bulb which 
we should like to spread all over the world. 
Red Emperor has also known better times. 
We remember very well how a handful of 
these fine flowers were brought by auto car 
to the flower show and how enthusiastic 
people were when they saw them. They 
were beautiful, indeed; large Amaryllis- like, 
bright red blooms on long, strong stems, 
better and finer they could not be. In culti- 
vation, Red Emperor seemed less good and it 
therefore is to be arranged among those va- 
rieties, which will never be principal sorts. 
Electro is better. It can be grown here 
with success, and though the color is not so 
deep and the flower not so large and round, 
yet it remains a beautiful Gladiolus and will 
always be highly valued by all growers. 
Liebesfeuer is one of the best we know, 
and it is worthy of being grown. It has all 
advantages, the color is of the finest bright 
red, many blooms open at the time, while 
the stem answers to all expectations. We 
are sure that Liebesfeuer will always be one 
of the best sorts for the trade, for besides 
being an excellent cut flower, this variety is 
of high value for arranging groups, as the 
stems are strong and not too high and the 
color beautiful. 
Panama and Pink Perfection are two pink 
Gladioli which are well known. Both are 
to be cultivated here pretty easily. Pink 
Perfection is of a distinct very fine pink color. 
We surely have here two leading varieties, 
which, both as cut and garden flowers, 
possess the most favorable qualities. 
Prince of Wales is not to be surpassed, 
both for its color as for cut and garden 
flower. The soft, fine salmon pink color 
gives this variety a singular charm. Among 
all sorts, which were awarded a certificate, 
it is standing alone. There are many white, 
red, yellow and pink ones, but there is only one 
in salmon and that is Prince of Wales. Also 
this will have a future and because it is cul- 
tivating very well and it will always play an 
important part in our cultivation. 
Loveliness? Does not it stand quite apart 
among the first class Gladioli as for its color? 
And also Loveliness will remain with us. 
The peculiar creamy white tint draws the 
attention, while the very large blooms and 
strong spikes, answer to high expectation. 
The cultivation is easy which is one more 
proof of its remaining a standard sort. 
White Giant — Speaking of a giant, we 
think of something big, heavy and stiff. But 
this cannot be said of this sort. Large, very 
large are the blooms indeed, but heavy and 
stiff they are by no means. On the contrary, 
the form of the separate blooms is such that 
the whole has something that looks elegant, 
for many of the gigantic white blooms are open 
at one time and it remains always attractive. 
The color is pure white and sometimes in 
admiring this variety a long time, we wished 
a small creamy flake on the lower petals so 
that the flowers became more alive. An- 
other time, however, and we think of the 
Nymegen-exhibition, we were surprised at 
the splendid effect it made by its snow-white 
color on green background. This is sure — 
White Giant is the best white at present. 
Flora is an improved Glory of Noordwijk as 
to its color. We do not know its worth for 
cultivation, but what we saw about them as 
cut flower was excellent. The color is soft 
and yet bright, while the blooms and spikes 
were very good. When Flora also possesses 
the wished properties for cultivation, we do 
not doubt but in the future it will be one of 
the most wanted varieties. 
Majestic is certainly the most brilliant red 
Gladiolus among the elected ones. On the 
field in the bright sunshine the color is daz- 
zling, and already from afar it is drawing the 
attention. From this we may conclude that 
it will be of high value for a garden decora- 
tion. It can also be used for cut flower with 
good success. We only fear that flowers 
will become too much striped by bad weather 
as many Gladioli do. Regarding its worth 
for cultivation, we cannot judge but, as we 
heard, it is growing well, and if this may be 
true, it is sure to get a good future. 
Mrs. Velthuys received in 1917 the first 
class certificate and so is the younger sister 
of the 17 other ones. For though Mrs. Frank 
Pendleton also received in 1917 this high dis- 
tinction, this Gladiolus is already well- 
known in the inland and foreign countries. 
Mrs. Velthuys, however, is quite new and 
one of the most brilliant Gladioli we know. 
The separate blooms often become so large 
that they make us think of Amaryllis, while 
the fiery carmine red color gives the whole an 
attraction of unknown worth. We had once 
the pleasure of seeing this variety in the 
open field and we could convince ourselves 
of its vigorous stand and luxurious growth, 
while we shall not easily forget the impres- 
sion the color made on us. Mrs. Velthuys is 
sure to make a great stir in the Gladiolus 
world. 
The last of the 17 is Mrs. Frank Pendleton, 
85 
an American sort with fine colored blooms. 
The dark spot makes a good effect on the 
lighter pink shade. The spike is excellent 
and it is different from the other named 
Gladioli, as the blooms are standing some- 
what separate which is in our opinion of 
particular worth, because this makes it more 
elegant. 
From this we may conclude that among 
the 17 Gladioli which were awarded with a 
first class certificate at Haarlem, in the 
course of the years, there are ten of Dutch 
origin, at least have been brought in the 
trade or offered for examination by Dutch- 
men. They are Glory of Noordwijk, Red 
Emperor, Electra, Pink Perfection, Prince oj 
Wales, Loveliness, White Giant, Flora, Ma- 
jestic, Mrs. Velthuys. Four of them were of 
German origin : Europa, Sieger, Badenia, 
Liebesfeuer. One came from France, Mad. 
Monnet Sully, while the U. S. A. gave us two 
varieties: Panama and Mrs. Frank Pendleton. 
We hope that the number of Dutch Gladi- 
oli will always surpass those of the imported 
ones and not only here, but wherever they 
are spread all over the world. 
Only two Primulinus Hybrids were awarded 
with the first class certificate, namely, Jane, 
in 1914, and Scarletta, in 1917. People will 
ask perhaps if in the two years between 
these, Primulinus Hybrids were not offered 
for examination because in that time no 
high certificate was awarded. This has, 
however, other reasons. Since that time 
the regulations regarding the first class cer- 
tificates were changed. And while Jane got 
a certificate already in the first show, Scar- 
letta had first to receive all the other dis- 
tinctions, before it got the highest. In the 
years 1915, 1916, 1917, several other varie- 
ties were given the award of merit, so that we 
may expect that also varieties of this group 
will get a prize in the near future. 
Jane and Scarletta differ very much in 
color, Jane is of a fine light yellow with ter- 
racotta tint, while Scarletta is excellent 
orange red. Both are very good and will 
certainly remain principal sorts. 
With the Primulinus Hybrids we are yet in 
the beginning, but we may expect much of 
them. That sorts like Jane and Scarletta will, 
however, be surpassed quickly, we don’t be- 
lieve. 
Note by the Editor — 
The experience of American growers with Pink 
Perfection is that it has very weak stems and that it 
is almost impossible to get a good, straight stem dur- 
ing warm weather. 
We would call attention to the fact that though ten 
out of nineteen of the varieties awarded first class 
certificates are of Holland origin, this does not neces- 
sarily reflect on the work of American hybridizers, 
but it might indicate that but few of the best Ameri- 
can sorts have been tried in Holland. 
If weather conditions are good we 
look for a fine display of Gladiolus 
bloom at the Buffalo show of the 
American Gladiolus Society, August 
14th to 17th. This city is well located 
to attract Gladiolus growers, being 
within easy shipping distance of the 
greater number of growers in the 
United States. It is hoped that all who 
are able to do so will show at Buffalo. 
The prize list is attractive and is ar- 
ranged so that almost any Gladiolus 
grower, no matter how small, will be 
able to fill in some of the classes. If 
you cannot send stock to exhibit, at- 
tend the show anyway and see some of 
the new varieties actually in bloom. 
We are still able to supply the four 
complete bound volumes of The Mod- 
ern Gladiolus Grower at the price 
of $1.25 each postage prepaid. 
