With the large number of people trying their luck at hybridizing, 
almost every Glad fan is enjoying the game. There are an excep¬ 
tionally large number of good things being developed. With so many 
good things in sight, it must be admitted that there are entirely too 
many varieties on the market, not all of these in the last few years, 
which require large plantings in order to furnish a minimum of 
good spikes. Some of these will do well and produce wonderful 
blooms if given extra good care, but the Glad that should be recog¬ 
nized is the one that can stand up and take it and/ give a good ac¬ 
count of itself under ordinary circumstances. 
In the past we have received several criticism because of our en¬ 
thusiasm regarding certain seedlings, etc. We are only growing in 
one location, though in several different soils, some of which have 
been tested at our State University and found sadly lacking. Things 
doing well under our conditions will do well nearly every where 
else, and in our travels we HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE TRUE. 
WE GIVE YOU THIS REPORT OF THE ACTUAL PERFORM¬ 
ANCE AS THEY GROW IN OUR GARDEN, WITHOUT BABYING 
OF ANY KIND. WE DO NOT, AND WILL NOT, STAKE A VAR¬ 
IETY FOR THE SHOW OR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. YOU WILL 
FIND NO PICTURES OF OUR GARDEN WITH WIRES OR 
STRINGS RUNNING DOWN THE ROWS. 
You will find in many of the articles written on glads, apologies 
for the introduction of some of them. Any variety that has to be fed 
with a spoon, and religiously watered, etc., and you are so instructed, 
is certainly being apologized for, or the originator is trying to back 
out of the door. 
We have had the pleasure of reading many articles in various 
magazines, in which so called test gardens are rather strongly crit¬ 
icized. We have started quite a clipping service that is interesting. 
Invariably, after condemning trial gardens, the author goes on to 
list the worth while varieties. Usually stating that he has either 
grown them, seen them grow, seen them at a show, or heard about 
them. In other words setting himself up as long distance trial garden 
We quote from one article in particular for your opinion: 
“The antipathy of many growers to so-called trial gardens arises 
from the tendency of the Gladiolus to behave so differently under 
varying conditions of climate and soil.” The foregoing seems to be 
an argument in favor of Trial Gardens. We quote further from the 
same article. “They have the advantage of seeing how it performs in 
quantity, and it is to be ASSUMED (capitals ours) that they also 
have reports on the variety from growers and individuals in other 
sections of the country to whom they sent some bulbs of the variety 
for trial a year or so prior to introduction.” 
This latter portion is certainly an unintentional indorsement of 
Trial Gardens. 
There are many growers who do not feel there is a need for trial 
gardens, and they are honest and above board in giving their reasons 
We have a great amount of respect for these men. They have been 
gyped in the past and are not sticking their necks out for another 
trial. Maybe after they find out we are above board, they will take a 
chance with us. Until then we will have to get along without their 
things. 
We invite your criticisms. We like it. Tell us what you think. The 
more complains, etc., the better our service. 
Several years ago we started preaching the gospel of several scat¬ 
tered trial gardens throughout the United States. All to grow by 
number only, without knowledge of who the donor of the bulbs 
would be. WE WANT TO JUMP THE GUN A LITTLE NOW AND 
SAY THAT WE DID NOT AND DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS PROPER 
FOR THE RESULTS OF THESE GARDENS TO BE BROUGHT 
TOGETHER AND THEN THE VARIETY GIVEN A RATING. At 
the close of the season the identification of the things under trial 
should be made; AFTER the variety has been approved or disap¬ 
proved of, independently of any other section, and so published. 
Personally, we do not think it proper to publish a report on a var¬ 
iety if it is adverse. We note a few that were not approved in the 
Maryland Test Gardens. Some of these are quite extensively grown 
