Reprint from the BANNER TIMES, Mason City , Illinois 
IRRIGATION SUCCESSFUL WITH GLADIOLUS 
EASTON GROWER HAS TWENTY ACRES OF CHOICE FLOWERS 
A visit to J. H. Heberling’s gladiolus 
field at Easton is of unusual interest. 
Regardless of the hot, dry, and parched 
season there are 20 acres of beautiful 
green and blooming spikes. Thousands of 
beautiful gladiolus spikes have been ship¬ 
ped from the Mason City express office 
to every part of the state and even be¬ 
yond. 
HAS IRRIGATION SYSTEM 
One naturally asks how was this re¬ 
markable crop secured in this year of 
heat and drought. Irrigation answers the 
whole question. The 20-acre tract adjoins 
Easton on the southeast being easily ac¬ 
cessible to the town. 
Mr. Heberling has established a com¬ 
plete system of overhead irrigation 
which embraces the entire 20-acre tract. 
About half of this field is sprayed from 
overhead pipes and this section can all 
be watered in a period of 48 hours. These 
pipes are placed at a height of from five 
to six feet and are properly distanced to 
cover all the ground between each two 
rows of pipes. Water is forced through 
apertures in the pipes by means of a 
gasoline force pump. The other half of 
the field is watered by two immense 
oscillating sprayers which may be moved 
from nlace to place over the field. They 
are connected with the main pumping 
station with movable pipes. These im¬ 
mense sprays move back and forth with 
a heavy spray of water which will cover 
a tract of ground 60 by 120 feet. When 
an inch of water has been sprayed the 
sprayers are moved on to the next 120 
feet until this entire half is watered. 
Mr. Heberling has an inexhaustible 
water supply from two wells only 50 feet 
deep. The irrigating pumps have been op¬ 
erated 24 hours a day ail summer and 
90,000 gallons of water have been pumped 
on to the field every 24 hours. 
ACHIEVEMENT 
Prior to 1933 Heberling’s Gladiolus had been exhibited at two American Gladi¬ 
olus Society Shows and four Illinois Gladiolus Society Shows. In these six exhibitions 
they were awarded 13 silver cups, one silver pitcher, eight gold medals, 17 silver 
medals, and 18 bronze medals. They won ten purple ribbons, 109 blue ribbons, 73 
red ribbons, and 43 white ribbons. 
At the Indiana Gladiolus Society Show, 1933, at LaPorte, Indiana, in which the 
American and Michigan Gladiolus Societies participated, Heberling’s Gladiolus won 
the Konyenburg and Mark Challenge Cup for the third time in five years—thereby 
gaining permanent possession of it. This trophy was awarded for the best display of 
varieties originated by Wilhelm Pfitzer, Ltd., of whose varieties we have one of the 
finest collections in America. 
At the Illinois Gladiolus Society Show at A Century of Progress Exposition, 
Chicago, August 12-14, 1933, Heberling’s Gladiolus were awarded A Century of Progress 
Gold Medal for the best display of gladiolus arranged for educational and artistic 
effect. They were awarded the I. G. S. Challenge Trophy for the best basket of gladi¬ 
olus in the Commercial Division, and they were awarded the American Gladiolus 
Society Gold Achievement Medal for winning the most points in the First or Com¬ 
mercial Division. 
The Illinois Gladiolus Society on August 24, 1935, awarded to Heberling’s Gladi¬ 
olus Blue Ribbon and cash award for best large commercial display at Canton, Illinois. 
Display occupied five hundred square feet. 
The Illinois Gladiolus Society on August 22, 1936, awarded to Heberling’s 
Gladiolus Inc., 44 Blue Ribbons, 16 Red Ribbons, and 12 White Ribbons. These awards 
included First Award for the 300 square feet, 150 square feet, and 100 square feet, all 
commercial displays. Also First for the 100 square foot Island Display. Special Award 
was made to the Island Display for being the most outstanding. Our introduction. 
Beautiful Ohio, received four First Awards in its color class. 
