GUIDEBOOK FOR 1942 
Page 9 

the S. E. Mich. gladiolus society show at 
Detroit. Here we collected 76 points. Probably 
our best entries were Crystal, Herbstfreude, 
R. B., Mardi Gras, Helen of Troy which was 
runner-up to grand champion (King Click) 
and Coutts’ Orchid, which won again in its 
color class and in the broader field as best 
Canadian introduction. This society is ex- 
panding its membership and improving its 
show at a fast pace. 
On our way home (without bloom) we 
visited the Ind. glad society show at Wabash. 
This show had a very large schedule and the 
classes were exceptionally well filled with fine 
bloom. We found several Ohio society mem- 
bers with the urge to exhibit and the where- 
withal in good blooms had crossed the border 
to challenge the Indiana residents. (Practic- 
ing, perhaps, for the big Midwest show which 
the Ind. society will sponsor this 15-16 of 
August at the big Auditorium at La Porte. 
If you live within 500 miles, we highly recom- 
ment that you attend.) 
At this Wabash show the seedling section 
was heavily laden with good entries, evidenc- 
ing a rapid step-up of seedling interest in 
that state. A large orange seedling via 
pollen of Spitfire taken from our champion 
seedling bloom at Ind. ’38, entered by Paul 
Pletcher, interested us most. Sectional 
champions were King of Hearts, Black Opal, 
Intrepid, Peggy Lou (2), Pelegrina and Wings 
of Song. Grand Champion went to a white 
seedling, also by Paul Pletcher. 
Our big Ohio society show was staged again 
in the immense Convention Hall at Cedar 
Point. Ohio shows have a well earned repu- 
tation for stressing the new varieties. Recent 
introductions predominate even in the regular 
color divisions. (‘‘Come and see us some 
time.’’) 
At the Ohio show we collected a rather 
topheavy score of 187 points, winning the 
N. E. G. S. Silver Medal for commercial 
point achievement. We entered both R. B. 
and Coutts’ Orchid for best Canadian intro- 
duction and R. B. nosed out Coutts’ Orchid. 
Each had won for us in same special class at 
Kalamazoo and Detroit, thus winning the 
third Canadian Gladiolus Society Medal. 
At this show we made a large commercial 
display of some 30 feet of length, comprehen- 
sive collection of labeled varieties. We have 
never failed to win in this class in Ohio 
(though we did once in the A. G. S.) 
We won 11 firsts in the arrangements sec- 
tion and the Wood Cup for the best handle 
basket, using Jersey Cream. 
As usual we won point achievement (and 
the Midwest Gold Medal) in the Recent In- 
troduction section. Here we wona N.E.G.S. 
sectional champion Rosette with a giant spike 
of Grand Opera which towered about a foot 
above its neighbors and had several open 
blooms, all of them about 7 inches across. 
Our seed hybridizing produced another 
winner with a listing of triumphs almost 
equal to that obtained by the all time record 
breaking Stella Antisdale. Our seedling No. 
83823, named Snow Cruiser, won its blue 
ribbon in the white seedling class. Then it 
became Exh. section seedling champion and 
secured the special N. E. G. S. Seedling 
Rosette for that distinction. Then it was 
selected as Champion Seedling of all types, 
including as well the 3 spike entries. Then it 
was taken over to the special group of sec- 
tional champions from all sections of the show 
—the finest group of spikes from which to 
select a grand champion that it has ever been 
our lot to see at any show, anywhere, any 
time. (We have seen well over 100 shows in 
U. S. and Canada.) Among these spikes the 
Grand Opera spike mentioned, immense 
spikes of Ohio, Nonpareil, Mrs. Richard 
McGovern, Treasury Gold and Peggy Lou. 
Also a spike of Queen Helen, a cream seedling 
and another spike of Grand Opera (last 2 
from our commercial display). And a big 
purple seedling since named ‘Purple Su- 
preme,”’ with light halo edge by Wilson. And 
our seedling Snow Cruiser, pure snow white 
with but 41% florets open, but all in the 
neighborhood of 71% inches diameter. When 
the judges finished voting, Snow Cruiser 
was Grand Champion of the Show and won 
the Ohio society Grand Champion Trophy. 
As Champion Seedling it won the ‘Evans 
Seedling Trophy.”’ 
What do we do with all the medals, cups, 
trophies which we win by the dozen every 
year? Well, for years we have been returning 
them to the various societies to be offered 
again in their next prize schedules. 
The following week end the Ohio society 
staged a secondary, 2 day show at the 
Garden Center in Cleveland. Most interesting 
to us were our wins with R. B., Herbstfreude, 
Dr. A. J. Verhage, Donna and our seedling 
No. 73567, a smoky red rose with a strong 
bluish tinged border over 14 inch wide. At 
this show King of Hearts had largest floret, 
our Ruffled Princess most ruffled floret. 
Frank J. McCoy had most open, Roses of 
Picardy had longest flowerhead and Rewi 
Fallu was grand champion spike. 
Taking some surplus bloom for the Wis- 
consin society show of same date, we drove 
576 miles by night to Manitowoc, being first 
to arrive at the hall and having to rout the 
janitor out of bed to let us in. With what 
bloom our sturdy LaSalle could carry we here 
collected 111 points, our most spectacular 
wins being with Sir Galahad, Amberglow, 
H. B. Pitt, Grand Opera, Helen of Troy, Jim 
Holland and Herbstfreude. Marseillaise, the 
show champion, was a red not far from the 
color of Rodney. 
“Your Guide Book better than ever—indispensable to the 
man who wants to win blue ribbons and compete for champ- 
ionships.”’ 1-13-41. J. H. O., Wellesley Hills, Mass. 
