2 
HORNBERGER’S HOME AND GARDEN SERVICE 
Hornberger’s Gladiolus Annual 
1937 COMMENTS—By F. C. H. 
W E present this, our 1937 Catalog, to all our many customers and friends with the 
sincere conviction that we have again improved the quality of our service to you. 
This season we are presenting our rating system for the use of all who wish to 
voluntarily co-operate with us. I am sure that this type of co-operation is ju t what is 
required at this time, and will reward all sincere and earnest effort. 
We are making some decided and distinct changes. All of these are required if we 
sure to carry forth our new policy of constructive effort. We call your attention 1o our 
change in credit selling. As most of our business has been on a cash basis, we find that 
the small amount of credit business we have adds greatly to our costs and hampers our 
service, so we intend to eliminate this line of business. For the present season we are 
niaking a charge of 6% interest on all strictly charge accounts, until we can make such 
adjustments that will permit us to eliminate all charge accounts. We find it will be 
more profitable for us to grow less bulbs, and sell all on a uniform cash basis, than to try 
to conduct a mixed (selling system. If you find that you must purchase on extended time 
payments, we are sure that we have many competitive growers who will be willing to 
take care of this kind of business. Perhaps they are better equipped for this system of 
selling. 
Special Notice: To Our Co-operators 
• 
KING ARTHUR has been rated by us as propagator “D.” The best commercial 
propagators are rated “AA,” “A” and “B”, as extra good, good, and fair. These three 
classes are considered most desirable for propagating under general non-irrigation meth 
ods of culture, while propagators (, C”, “D n and “E” lare considered too slow for general 
propagation as commercial cut flower varieties, although where they can be propagated 
with some degree of success, they are valuable for the retail bulb trade. Propagators “C” 
are at about the dividing line. Some of these varieties are worth while, in particular 
where they have exceptional qualities other than propagators, and in particular where 
you have soil conditions very well adapted to bulblet propagation. “D” and “E” are slow 
and very slow. King Arthur produces very large individual florets, but has a very short 
spike, though it can be grown under very favorable conditions to produce outstanding 
exhibition bloom, and combined with an attractive color, individual specimens are often 
very attractive. We isuggest that cut flower growers always purchase this variety in 
small trial lots before making any large purchase, in fact this applies to practically all 
varieties, unless you have seen them growing in large quantity in some field where the 
soil conditions were just average, let us say soil conditions that will approximate 200 
bushels of potatoes to the acre. 
Another large class is the so-called “Uncertain” group. Among this group are many 
fast propagators and good growers, but the flower performance is too uncertain to make 
them really profitable. We van include here varieties such as Carolus Clusius, B. U. 
Smith, Mary Frey, etc. 
All Co-operators are urged to pay particular attention to making average measure¬ 
ments of all spikes each season and in particular bo make such measurements of spikes 
from all sizes of bulbs planted. Be exact in these measurements, also be sure to indicate 
on curd the particular type of isoil, as well as all other facts that will assist ns to make 
a true analysis of each variety tested. We can not over emphasize the importance of 
answering every single question on the rating card. Never regard any question as too 
trivial. These cards are so arranged from an extensive experience that where they are 
tilled out completely and accurately, we will have data of such importance as few may 
realize. Many Questions merely reouire a check mark. You will find that with the use 
of our “Rating Cards” this record work will not be at all difficult. We are always willing 
to supply any additional information. 
