4 
F. C. Hornberger, Home and Garden Service 
day, but for the longest spike, the most 
open, the variety that will win high 
honors on the show bench, but in many 
instances proves a failure when grown 
outside, except in the milder sections and 
by the use of irrigation so the plant will 
not be forced to show its WEAKNESS, 
where it will not have to RESIST AD' 
VERSE soil and climate. These varieties 
would pass all right if all growers of 
Glads lived in very mild sections, had 
irrigation and almost ideal soil, and seed 
beds, but unfortunately, most of the 
people who grow Glads do not have any 
of these advantages and aids to nature 
and their plants must struggle along in 
the ordinary adverse situation. 
Varieties that perform well in nearly 
all sections of the country are not so 
plentiful. Pfitzer’s varieties have been 
much advertised and praised by irriga' 
tion growers, but we have not found 
many of them truly outstanding, ah 
though I do think that they have used 
care in introducing Glads that will make 
a good, high average. I think Maid of 
Orleans one of their very best; their in' 
troduction of Blue Triumphator was one 
of their greatest mistakes; it belongs in 
the class of Solveig, as a group of weak, 
erratic growers. These varieties when 
given almost ideal conditions can be 
grown to wonderful beauty for the show 
room, but are practically worthless when 
grown under average conditions of soil 
and climate. Blue Triumphator cost me 
at the rate of $135.00 per bulb to ini' 
port, including duty and forwarding 
charges; Solveig cost $50.00 per bulb, 
and I am sure that only the growers who 
used irrigation methods of production 
ever got their money back or made any 
profit from them. Coronado has been 
another “pet” of the irrigation growers, 
but of no value here. Pirate (Palmer) is 
another that we have grown for three 
years and found so unsatisfactory that 
we have discarded it. Lily of Gold 
(Kunderd) when introduced was to be 
one of the World Wonders; with us it 
is practically worthless; we have dis¬ 
carded it. Perhaps it may be all right in 
some other part gf the country. Mary 
Jane (Kunderd) is another that was 
highly advertised; we have discarded it; 
it has but small value here. Miss Des 
Moines is another that when first intro' 
duced with many awards to its credit 
was very highly advertised, and its win- 
nings “played up”. With us, it is not 
satisfactory and we list it only for such 
customers as are able to grow it well. I 
could continue almost indefinitely, but 
space is limited. 
NOMENCLATURE AND REGIS' 
TRATION of new varieties; personally 
I regard this as the pet hobby of the 
American Gladiolus Society. Their book 
Nomenclature has listed practically all 
varieties registered and un-registered 
produced up to 1930. By the A.G.S. 
rules, a variety that has been introduced 
after 1930 must be registered by them, 
otherwise it cannot compete for any 
prizes offered or controlled by the 
A.G.S., but all unregistered varieties 
that were introduced prior to 1930 may 
compete for their prizes. 
This of course is compulsion on the 
part of the A.G.S. to make every origi' 
nator register his variety with them; if 
he does not do so, his variety cannot 
compete for their prize awards, but I 
think more people belong to independent 
Societies than to the A.G.S. so their 
rules can not influence all originators. 
Here are independent groups who have 
no connection with the A.G.S.; The 
New England Gladiolus Society; about 
equal in membership with the A.G.S., 
The Greater Detroit Gladiolus Society; 
a very large and important group, and 
the New York State Gladiolus Society. 
All of these independent groups only 
charge $1.00 per year for membership, 
while the A.G.S. and its affiliates charge 
$2.00 per year for membership. I will 
receive and forward any membership 
sent me, if for the A.G.S. or its affiliates, 
or for any independent Society. You do 
not need to have your varieties regis' 
tered to show them at the exhibitions of 
the N.E.G.S. or any other independent 
group. See our special offer on another 
page concerning the New England Glad 
Society. 
