HURNBERGER'S HOME AND GARDEN SERVICE 
7 
COMMERCIAL GLADIOLUS CLASSIFICATION 
9 Or a system of field rating or scoring to determine field performance as BULB- 
LET PROPAGATORS, when used by EASTERN NON-IRRIGATION GROW¬ 
ERS on all types of average soils: light, medium, heavy, as well as warm, early 
soils and late, cold soils. Last season we made an attempt to rate all Glads 
with an individual rating as propagators. We had six different classifications; 
- A A for exceptional propagators; A for good, average propagators, and B for 
moderately good propagators. These three classes were recommended for gen¬ 
eral commercial growing by eastern non-irrigation growers w r ho wished to purchase varieties 
that would propagate well or even only mode r a + ely well. We also rated the slow and extra 
slow in three classes as propagators C, D, and E. These three classes are so slow that we 
recommend that they be propagated mainly as bulb propositions by growers who sell them 
to “glad fans” who do not care about propagating qualities, who grow but few of a kind 
for their own pleasure, and who propagate bulblets mainly for the fun and pleasure derived, 
and to whom it is not very important how fast they propagate. 
PROPAGATION: A slow propagator may be a good germinator. Propagation means 
the average rate of increase of new stock under specific conditions. Germination means in¬ 
ducing the bulblet to sprout and grow. Therefore germination is distinctly different than 
propagation. A variety may produce an abundance of bulblets (example, Blue Danube 
and Early Sunrise), but when planted, only a few germinate. The pre-germination of bulb¬ 
lets, inducing them to become active and sprout before planting, is a common practice. 
Read the New' England Gladiolus Society’s Year Book for 1936, only $1.00. This will give 
you most of the popular pre-germination experiences in detail. 
SECTION No. 1. Will contain all varieties that we have tested, long enough to con 
sider fair, good or very good propagators, or worthwhile as propagators under average 
methods of culture. 
SECTION No. 2. Contains varieties that have not been grown long enough to deter¬ 
mine if they will rate high enough as propagators, to be placed in the preferred commercial 
group, which is Section 1. To make sure that you do not regard these the same as the 
SLOW PROPAGATORS in this list, which are listed as Propagators C, D. and E, we will 
indicate all such varieties as NOT RATED. This will indicate that they have not yet been 
classified or rated for any particular class, but are simply under test. To avoid so many 
groups we list these, for general description, with the very slow propagators which are 
all listed in this section. We are mainly concerned with COMMERCIAL VALUES AND 
WITH PROPAGATION, so we will omit all reference to exhibition olas a ifi^ation, which all 
gladiolus societies have available for all interested persons. We may add exhibition ratings 
by another season. 
SECTION No 1—GENERAL DESCRIPTIVE LIST 
All listings under Section 1 are considered by us as fair, good, and extra good pro¬ 
pagators. This sign (*) before a variety indicates best florist colors. ABBREVIATIONS: 
Prop., propagator, etc. Tall, Med. Tall, Med. and Short indicate the length of stem. 
Figures as 70-70 indicate average number of days to flower, while figures like (5-6) indi¬ 
cate average size of bloom in inches diameter. (Com.) special commercial value. 
♦AFLAME (Hornberger) Tall, (Com.) 80-85 days, florets 5 6, good prop. This has been 
called the giant of the prim-grand type, perhaps one of the most popular Glads 
ever originated. By that I mean one retaining its popularity over so many years. 
The stem and leaves are very heavy, massive and dark green. The foliage is so 
resistant to freezing that it will stand temperatures that froze both stem and leaves 
of many other varieties. Read our experiences on another page in regard to the 
reaction of different varieties to the action of frost. Aflame has been one of the 
outstanding exhibition varieties of the country, and still maintains its place. Plants 
including spikes six feet tall are quite common under good culture, as well as 
florets six inches or more. The spike is nealy always straight, strong, yet willowy 
and graceful. Florets are well placed and well spaced. Its coloring always has 
made a strong appeal to most people, described as a rich, deep, begonia rose, shad¬ 
ing to orange flame at edge of petals. The reverse side of the petals are as beau¬ 
tiful as the face of the flower. A national prize winner of medals and awards. 
Easy to grow. 
