FINE NEW GLADIOLUS 
from the 
PEARSON GLAD GARDENS 
Keysville, Virginia 
Again we are pleased to report on the performances of our two varieties which have already won consider- 
able popularity as well as the two new ones we are introducing this year. Comments by several well-known 
growers are given, but space is too limited to quote all of them. 
LADY ASTOR 
This is a clear orange salmon of the decorative type. Color is clean and attractive. Tall, usually straight, 
a fine keeper, and makes nice florets from all size bulbs. Over all length 62 inches, head 22 inches, number open 
7, number buds 20, florets 4% inches. Maultiplies rapidly. Blooming time 75-80 days. Parentage Picardy X 
Fata Morgana. Mr. D. S. Pruitt, the well-known hybridist, who gave us Myrna and other good ones, had this to 
say, “Lady Astor is really in a class by itself, being very different in color from anything I have seen.” Mr. 
James Odell, Wellesley Hills, Mass., spoke of it as, “That fine orange with the cream yellow and lighter orange 
throat.” He also said, “This had more beauty than most orange varieties and looked as though it might have 
some commercial appeal. If it grows regularly as we saw it (at Rhinebeck, N. Y.) there should be a good 
chance to run well in the front in 1941 in some American Home Achievement Medal Contest.” Mr. W. M. 
Anderson showed it in the orange class at Rhinebeck and won first. Mr. Pearson also won first with it at Hagers- 
town. 
SHENANDOAH 
This is a smoky of autumn leaf colors such as one would expect from its parents Marmora and Mother Ma- 
chree. Always straight with good placement, overall length 50 inches, head 20 inches, number open 8, buds 
18, florets 4% inches, Exhibition type. Very prolific. Blooming time 70-75 days. It was given a Vote of 
Commendation at the Maryland Trial Garden. Mr. Anderson said he considered it the most beautiful spike in 
his entire collection in 1939. Mr. Pruitt said, “Shenandoah is a very different smoky. A fine performer, and 
I think it will be very popular when well-known.” Mr. M. C. Severson, Ames, Iowa, wrote, “Shenandoah gave 
excellently straight and long spikes with perfect placement. When I dug the bulbs I was amazed at the enor- 
mous crop of bulblets. They sure are prolific. All your seedlings look good to me.” Mr. Hornberger, Hamburg. 
N. Y., said, ‘“‘This variety is a very exceptional smoky and I think will be in good demand when better known.” 
Another enthusiastic fan wrote, “What a color combination! Nothing one could say would be too much for 
this thing of beauty and charm.” 
The prices on these two will be: Large size 50c. Medium 30c. Small 20c. Bulblets 5c¢ each. Large size 
10 for $3.50, Medium 10 for $2.50, Small 10 for $1.50, Bulblets $2.00 per 100. 
MILDRED CHANDLER 
New for 1941. Named for the wife of Senator Chandler of Kentucky. Won an Award of Merit at the 
Maryland Trial Garden in 1939. They reported as follows: ‘This seedling of the exhibition type produced 
fine spikes 49 inches high with 17 buds on 22 inch flower heads and eight 4% inch florets open in the field. The 
color is clean and attractive, the spike straight, and the placement good. Florets were slightly hooded with red 
throat markings.’”’ Blooms in seventy days. Parentage: Picardy seedling 35p300 X Mary Brown. While not 2 
true orange it would probably be so classed on any show bench. It is more of an orange red with a tange- 
rine throat. Awarded first prize in the orange class at Rhinebeck in 1940 by Mr. W. M. Anderson under the 
tentative name of ‘‘Roanoke.’”’ Mr. Anderson wrote, “It is attracting considerable attention in my patch and I 
believe it is well worth while. There is something about the color that one will stop and look at the second time 
and in this regard it is rather distinctive and resembles no other variety whatever.” 
ROA NOKE 
This is the name we have chosen for our Picardy Sport. Mr. E. A. Lins of Legion Trial Garden reported 
as follows: “Fifty inches tall, 24 inch head, 16 buds, 7 open, 6 in color, 6% inch size and certainly a marvel 
in every other way including color. Excellent facing and spacing. Spike straight. Cream shading to a deli- 
cate orchid. It’s a beauty.” 
Prices of Mildred Chandler and Roanoke are $3.00 Large or Medium sizes. 
We want to call attention to another seedling by Mr. Pearson, one of the most beautiful and unique glads 
we have ever seen anywhere, but because of its almost complete departure from show standards it may continue 
to bloom and blush unseen, except by possibly a few other fans who have a flair for the informal decorative 
type. This is a shell pink and crooks with artistic abandon. Its beautiful blossoms are more nearly doub'e than 
any we have ever seen. One glad fan on seeing it said. “You don’t mean to tell me that is a glad. What a 
beauty!’ We will be glad to hear from interested fans about this one. 
WM. L. PEARSON, Hybridist. 
