CROSSROAD GARDENS 
QUALITY UNSURPASSED 
RANDOM NOTES 
If you are not growing the modern Gladiolus, by all means have a 
garden of Glads this year. There is no other flower that offers the infinite 
variety of forms, shadings, and color. The Gladiolus as we know it today 
is a far cry from those of only a decade ago. Hybridizers have worked 
away from the limited colors and stiff awkward spikes of the past and the 
exquisite beauty of many of the introductions of recent years is truly 
unbelievable. 
We are especially proud of our bulb crop this year. Our new automatic 
overhead irrigation system worked to perfection, and as always, we dis¬ 
infected every bulb before planting in Bi-Chloride of Mercury. During the 
growing season the plants were sprayed weekly with our large high-pressure 
spray machine. We top-dress our growing stock twice and keep it topped 
throughout the blooming season so that all the growth goes into the bulbs. 
The bulbs are now resting in hundreds of screen-bottomed trays in our 
storage quarters, where the temperature is kept at 40 degrees. Conse¬ 
quently, our bulbs are spotlessly clean, without a sign of thrip or disease. 
We have a State Nurseryman’s license, and our stock, which is examined 
periodically by the State inspectors, has always been given a Class A rating. 
All these precautions to raise clean, healthy bulbs cost money, so remember 
in buying bulbs that price is not everything. In fact, sometimes the price 
is a minor item. Consider the quality, extra count, the reliability of the 
grower, and the service rendered. Extra large bulbs are not necessary. In 
fact, usually the jumbo size bulbs sold in the chain stores are bulbs that 
the growers have discarded as being past their best and of an inferior 
quality. So do not be misled by bargain bulbs; like any other product, it 
costs money to raise good, clean, healthy bulbs. Any grower who contin¬ 
ually sells below the competitive market price is either selling bulbs of 
inferior quality, or selling below the cost of production. 
The public judges Glads by what they see in the flower shops. Often 
the florists have a very inferior quality of Glads and a very small selection 
of varieties. This is especiallj^ true in the big cities. Some up-to-date florists 
are carrying the newer varieties, but there are many beautiful varieties 
that you can buy at a reasonable price, that are much finer than what the 
florists usually carry. Do not judge the modern Gladiolus by those of five 
years ago, or those you see in the average flower shop. Grow a few bulbs 
yourself this year and see how beautiful a Glad can be. 
Many people ask us what are the best varieties. If every grower were 
to make a list of the best varieties there would be as many lists as there are 
growers. A variety that does well in one locality may make a very poor 
showing in others. Also individual tastes vary greatly so that he would 
be, indeed, a courageous man who made a list of the best. 
The only way you can find out what varieties are best suited to your 
purpose is to try what looks good to you from the description in the 
catalogue. You will soon know what varieties you like. 
The varieties we list are among the most popular and most widely 
grown. They do well with us and they are in demand. Of course, no grower 
can grow them all. We have grown hundreds of diiferent varieties in the past 
thirteen years, and we believe from our experience that our list will please 
you. 
Try some of the more recent introductions this year; many of them are 
getting down in price now to where the average amateur can buy them. 
STATE OF MAINE 
4 
NORTHERN GROWN BULBS 
