THE GLADIOLUS FANCIER’S GUIDEBOOK FOR 1934 
Page 9 
OUR KEY SYSTEM A GREAT AID 
TO SELECTION 
Varieties are grouped by color classifica¬ 
tion for your convenience of comparison 
and selection. 
Varieties are critically described. Natu¬ 
rally, in a list such as this, consequential 
faults are few, nevertheless, attention is 
called to them. Show dates and references 
are to first prizes only. Room to mention 
but few. Symposium ratings refer only to 
those last published. 
For seven years our variety descriptions 
have been praised generously, for the 
accurate visualization of the size of indi¬ 
vidual floret, the number open at one time, 
the total bud length of the flower spike, 
the prominence of markings, etc., made 
possible by the use of stars, daggers and 
other hieroglyphics. 
We will tell you the size florets to expect, 
a * indicating large florets 4)4 to 5)4 inches 
diameter, ** indicating 5)4 to 6 inches and 
*** indicating extreme size 6 to 8 inches. 
We explain the relative quantity of mark¬ 
ing, + indicating with obvious markings, 
i. e., so evident as to arrest attention and 
— indicating without obvious marking. 
We do not list varieties incapable of 
holding five florets open at one time. There 
are thousands of such varieties. We employ 
f to indicate many open (6-8) and ff to 
indicate an extreme number (9-16). If the 
total of open florets and buds make an 
unusually long spike, we indicate with a 
double dagger J (15-18) and extreme 
(19-30). 
We furnish the approximate blooming 
dates of varieties in this locality, checked 
to the best of our ability from experience of 
many years. Number after name indicates 
days from planting to blooming of large 
size bulb (L). Medium size (M) usually 
seven to ten days later. Dates not guar¬ 
anteed since subject to change by excessive 
heat, moisture, drought, differing soil 
fertility and other conditions. 
We furnish sound bulbs free from disease 
or thrips infestation. The large bulbs have 
just arrived for the first time to such size, 
with two years of growth from bulblet. 
Older bulbs and those produced by division 
from other bulbs do not make the best ex¬ 
hibition blooms. A large bulb forced to 
that size from a bulblet in one year’s growth 
is appreciably inferior, too. Grown with 
ample field irrigation. If you paid our 
electric power bill you would have a better 
understanding of that. We have no M bulbs 
that should have grown to L (an old bulb 
though M in size). Plenty such on the 
market, cheap, unirrigated bulbs. They 
will throw weak spikes and propagate as 
poorly. 
Abbreviations: L large bulb 134 in. up. 
M medium size bulb %- 134- S small bulb 
Y%-%. Bits, bulblets. Pr., Primulinus. 
P. G., Primulinus Grandiflorus. A. G. S., 
American Gladiolus Society. Ohio, Ohio 
Gladiolus Society. Mah., Mahoning Gladi¬ 
olus Society. C. G. S. (Canadian). B. G. 
S. (British). E. Bay (California G. S.). 
San Leandro (The largest flower show on 
western coast). A. M., Award of Merit. 
F. C. C., First Class Certificate. 
Rosemarie Pfitzer 
