20 
THE FOSS HEATON GLAD GARDENS, CRESTON, IOWA 
a large yellow, a real blue, a better pure pink than any we now have, a genuine 
orange, taller spikes with many open, better keepers, and so on. 
GLAD HISTORY 
The Glad is a newcomer among cultivated plants. Although there are a few 
species native to Southern Europe and Asia Minor, they never attracted any special 
attention. But when the bright colored and varied species of South Africa were dis¬ 
covered about a hundred years ago, a great impetus was given to Glad improvement. 
A member of the Iris family, the genus Gladiolus contains about one hundred and 
fifty species, all but fifteen of them native to South Africa. The first specimens 
were brought from the Cape of Good Hope near the beginning of the 19th century. 
A few of the more promising species were crossed, and several resulting strains were 
developed, the most prominent being the “gandevensis” strain. The most famous 
variety of the latter strain was the old red and yellow Brenchleyensis. Many breeders 
of England, France, and Germany, as well as America, have been constantly on the 
job since then seeking finer and finer Glads. 
There are several distinct modern strains, though all varieties are more or less 
related. The Primulinus strain was the result of crossing on the large-flowered 
kinds a recently discovered species called Primulinus, which is a pure yellow, small, 
hooded flower. The hybrids of this cross have slender, graceful stems, small blooms, 
and a pronounced hood. Another modern strain is the blotched Glads developed by 
Lemoine of France. Pfitzer of Germany has developed a violet colored strain, ap¬ 
proaching blue. The Australians have produced a Glad with many open. And Amer¬ 
ica is concentrating on kinds that can stand a dry climate and rough handling, or the 
so-called commercial varieties. 
A VOTE OF THANKS TO THE CONNOISSEUR 
The Glad bug, or fancier, as we call him, is the one who is catered to by the in¬ 
troducer of the newer and higher priced varieties. He buys the expensive and rare 
things because he is a bug, while the professional grower buys them in order to have 
a stock worked up for the time when the variety gets into the popular low-priced 
level. There is quite a risk in either case, because very few of the hundreds of new 
introductions ever become standard. And yet, how would we ever arrive at a reliable 
estimate of new varieties if it were not for the services of these fanciers? It is an 
expensive pastime to be a Glad bug, and we owe him a great debt. He is a useful 
citizen, may his tribe increase. At least, let us give him a vote of thanks. 
THE A. G. S. VOTE ON FAVORITES 
The members of the American Gladiolus Society vote each year on the best va¬ 
rieties. When the annual dues are sent to the secretary, on the back of the applica¬ 
tion blank a space is provided for the names of ten varieties which the member re¬ 
gards as his favorites for the year. Sometime during the summer these votes are 
counted, and the varieties receiving votes are then ranked according to the numbei 
of votes each receives, and the fifty highest are published. 
THE TABLE OF FAVORITES FOR 1933 
(The number in parentheses is the ranking for 1932) 
1 . 
Picardy (5) 
17. 
Maid of Orleans (new) 
2. 
Minuet (1) 
18. 
Giant Nymph (15) 
3. 
Marmora (2) 
19. 
Mrs. P. W. Sisson (16) 
4. 
Betty Nuthall (4) 
20. 
Ave Maria (22) 
5. 
Mr. W. H. Phipps (3) 
21. 
Bagdad (new) 
6. 
Commander Koehl (14) 
22. 
Our Selection (30) 
7. 
Mother Machree (10) 
23. 
Pelegrma (new) 
8. 
Pfitzer’s Triumph (8) 
24. 
Coryphee (23) 
9. 
Dr. F. E. Bennett (6) 
25. 
Jonkheer Van Tets (27) 
10. 
Mrs. Leon Douglas (7) 
26. 
Mildred Louise (new) 
11. 
Albatros (13) 
27. 
Dr. Moody (26) 
12. 
Golden Dream (9) 
28. 
Gloriana (21) 
13. 
Mammoth White (17) 
29. 
Berty Snow (25) 
14. 
Aflame (12) 
30. 
Charles Dickens j(37) 
15. 
Emile Aubrun (11) 
31. 
Purple Glory (18) 
16. 
Red Lory (40) 32. 
Veilchenblau (19) 
