An explanation of how this TRIAL GARDEN came into existence, 
and its purpose is probably due again to the hundreds of new sub¬ 
scribers to our service, and to those receiving our reports for the 
first time. 
We originally, and still do, ship large quantities of Glads to the 
Disabled Veterans in the Soldiers Home at Milwaukee. Some of the 
larger men in the Glad industry sent us bulbs so that we would have 
a larger supply and greater variety to send to them. At the same 
time, they asked for a report on what these did in this territory. As 
we reported to them, others started sending newer varieties and 
finally we were receiving some of the very latest. 
This has grown far beyond the need of any more bulbs for the 
above purpose, with the exception, that the Veterans always are in¬ 
terested in the newer things. For the last four years we have been 
operating strictly as a Trial Garden. Further along you will find 
how we hope to meet the expense of reports and postage for THE 
FIRST TIME. The expense of boxes, express and other incidental 
expenses, occasioned by shipping to the Veterans’ will be borne as 
usual, out of our personal pocket. The following letter is typical of 
many received, and we pass this on in the hope that growers in other 
states, who have blooms going to waste, will deliver them to the dis¬ 
abled in their section: 
“American Legion Auxiliary, 
Department of Wisconsin 
E. A. LINS, Service Officer 
Spring Green, Wis., 
Thank you again for remembering the men in the hospital with a 
donation of flowers. 
They were very beautiful and cheered up the men wonderfully. 
They like to know that they are not forgotten and you can say it so 
nicely with flowers. 
Sincerely, 
Mrs. R. A. Miller.” 
We expect in the future to be able to send Peonies to the disabled 
also. We purchased a few varieties this year, and received in addi¬ 
tion, an excellent assortment of extras. These were received from 
Mr. Sisson, Rosendale, Wisconsin, to help this work along. Anyone 
wishing peonies will do well to investigate what he has to offer. A 
trip to his garden in blooming time is well worth while. 
The past two years we have spent all of the time possible, inspect¬ 
ing plantings in various other states. On one of our later trips this 
season, we called at the homes of Golden Lancer, Prairie Gold and 
Mary Ansteen. Growth of these, both young stock, and old, was just 
as healthy and vigorous as they have been for us. 
We also, of course, made several trips to Dr. Scheer’s garden. 
Some of these were made during our drought period. All of them but 
one, unaccompanied by the Doctor, though with his permission. 
While things did not always look the best during the drought, w^e as¬ 
certained from interested neighbors, that all parts of the garden re¬ 
ceived the same treatment. We asked the Doctor concerning this 
also and he gave us the same information. His seed bed was excep¬ 
tionally good, without considering the adverse weather condition?. 
His seedlings were far superior in performance to the standards he 
has been using as breeding stock and we saw several exceptionally 
good things there again this year. We have never had the good for¬ 
tune to, nor do not expect to have, any income from any of Dr. 
Scheer’s varieties, nor to have them growing in our garden. We are 
under no obligations to Mr. Nichtman who handles the above. 
We also were very well pleased with some of the seedlings we saw 
in the garden of Walter Krueger. On one of our trips we found him 
at home and were privileged to observe the growth and vigor of the 
young stock from these seedlings. 
Martin Blievernicht has several nice seedlings, some that may 
travel quit© aways commercially, if they do as well in other parts of 
the country. 
Seedlings were checked but not grown for A. R. Pontius. We in¬ 
clude description of them this year. Next season we expect to have 
them growing in our garden and can follow them more closely. 
