PERSONAL GREETINGS 
Another year has turned over since writing our last catalog. We want to thank our 
many loyal friends and good customers for making this catalog possible. The year 1938 
has gone, never to return. In spite of the adversities of a peculiar season, a business 
depression, and cheap Gladiolus everywhere in the air, last year far exceeded our ex¬ 
pectations in bulb and flower sales, new friends and customers, and the finest crop of 
high class bulbs we were ever able to produce. Last February, March and April we 
had unusually heavy rainfall. Just had to plant between showers and downpours; fol¬ 
lowed by a drought in May which lasted 35 days and no rain. This is the most critical 
time to the growth of bulblets turning into small bulbs. We doubled our irrigation 
equipment to meet the occasion, with very good results. June turned in wet, rained 
nearly every day Till about August 15th. This was a good year to try out the many 
varieties for crooked spikes and sun water scald, with plenty of cultivation, good drain¬ 
age and selected stocks. Our blooms came out better than any previous season. 
In order to get the public better acquainted with many of the newer varieties which 
bloomed at different times of the Gladiolus season, we opened up a roadside stand, 
THE GLAD SHOP, which was a success in every way. Our motto, “Make Them Happy 
with Glads” was a hit. During the season we decorated three of the leading hospitals 
with glads and the enjoyment brought by these contributions returned blessings beyond 
the value of the flowers. Many customers bought Glads for hospitals, churches, wed¬ 
dings, parties, funerals, and cemetery grave decorations. For customers we made two 
air express shipments to St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., and one to Johns Hopkins 
Hospital, Baltimore, Md. All three shipments were reported delivered in good condition. 
During the season, both our Glad Shop and farm were visited by many interested folks 
from nearly every section of the United States. Leading statisticians claim business is 
on the up-grade and we are confidently looking forward to 1939 being the greatest year 
in Gladiolus history. We have attempted to build up a collection of the most outstanding 
varieties of Gladiolus in cultivation. Had over 200 varieties in garden and trial patch 
the past season, and we are offering you the cream of the crop. We do not offer varieties 
that did not come up to our standard of performance in this trying climate. We don’t 
list any old varieties that passed out of the picture years ago. The varieties we offer 
are 90 per cent of the varieties that won Blue Ribbons in the leading shows the past 
season and you will make no mistake in ordering any of them. We thank you. 
