Over the Garden Fence 
That is how I would like to meet you all, each morning 
during the blooming season, that we might be able to enjoy 
each other’s glad happines in our work with these most won¬ 
derful flowers. Over the garden fence—you in the middle of 
your patch and 1 in mine, discussing the line points of this 
one and that one, holding up a choice spike for the other to 
examine. You know, friends, I think that our chief happiness 
in this great work is that pleasure of sharing our treasures 
with others. I know that sometimes, when I happen to be 
alone in the field and chance upon a particularly fine spike, 
or a beautiful new seedling, that half the pleasure is lost 
because I am alone. 
Thus it is, that I meet you again, in this new year of ’37, 
with hopes and hearts full—here over the Garden fence. I 
feel somewhat alone, to be sure, in that I am the fellow who 
has to do all the gabbing, while you will have to write to me 
with your opinions. Still, I think you will bear with me, that 
this little annual chat is a looked-forward-to pleasure—at 
least I am sure of that fact. 
I present this year’s catalogue with more pleasure than 
ever before—not all together because times are decidedly 
better, nor because I happen to have a fine crop of new and 
rare glad bulbs for you to consider, nor, either because I am 
in good health and in good spirits; but chiefly because this 
year is a banner year for me and I feel sure it is to be a 
banner year for all connected with the gladiolus industry. 
Shall I explain? 
Reading a little further in the book, you will notice my 
affiliation with a man whose work with breeding glads has 
placed him at the very top of the list of successful hybrid¬ 
izers. A gentleman of the first water, whose scientific breeding 
has worked wonders in the field of endeavor—wonders that 
I hardly dare breathe about for fear you, and you, and you 
will not believe me. I am hoping that in the course of the 
next few years his seedlings will be propagated in such 
quantities that some of these fine varieties will be available 
to each of you at a very nominal price, and then I shall be 
tickled pink if I can get a look at the gaze of consternation 
(Continued on page four) 
