My Rating by Stars 
3% %& %& % ~ means the variety is ‘“‘extra good,” or as good as there is in its color. 
*& *& *& 4% means “‘very good.” 
*& %& %& ~=means “good.” ; 
I try to make my descriptions and star ratings as accurate as possible and I 
can’t give you any better advice about the various varieties than as stated in my 
descriptions and ratings. Many people think these descriptions are just origin- 
ators’ stock descriptions such as some seed houses use and don’t rely on them. 
For instance in my last year’s catalogue I stated that Algonquin was a good com- 
mercial and just today someone writes in and asks what I think of it as a commer- 
cial. I haven’t time to write an individual letter to every customer telling what I 
think of the various varieties. That is why I give them the star ratings. ts 
These ratings will often vary from year to year according to how the varieties 
perform. Sometimes I have to drop them )% star and then again I raise them. 
Each year’s rating gives my most mature judgment about the variety. I know that 
a variety may do better in some places than in others so I can’t guarantee Just 
how the various varieties will perform for you. Occasionally someone doesn’t like 
a high rated variety at all and again people tell me that my ratings are too low. 
The Canadian Gladiolus Society conducts a variety symposium every year in 
which growers rate the varieties A B and C, and D for discard. Most every variety 
has some votes in each rating. 
I used to list some varieties that rated only about 2 and 2) stars. I have dis- 
continued these as unless a variety is worth at least 3 stars, I don’t consider it 
good enough to sell. The rating of a variety changes some from year to year accord- 
ing to how they perform. As stated in another place glads will often perform dif- 
ferently under different conditions and in different localities so that these ratings 
may not correspond with yours. If a variety doesn’t come up to your expectations, 
give it another trial and perhaps it will rate better another year. Many people 
write me that my ratings are very accurate. Some varieties may do better with you 
than they do here. In fact I know some varieties that do not do so well here as 
they do most everywhere else. 
Culture of Gladiolus 
The culture of gladiolus is very simple. They will grow in most any kind of 
soil or in any climate where there are 70 to 80 days of growing weather. We sell 
them in many countries from Alaska to South Africa. The main requirements are: 
Full sun all day. 
Plenty of moisture. 
Good drainage. 
Serene if there is any possibility of there being thrips in the neighbor- 
ood. 
Some fertility in the soil. They will do well if there is very little fertility 
provided they have plenty of water, but they will do much better 
if thev have some fertilizer. ; 
A six (6) page circular on culture goes with every order of bulbs. If you wish 
this circular before your order is sent drop me a line. 
ae sere te 
Soil and Fertilizer Requirements 
Glads will grow in most any kind of soil from the hardest clay to the lightest 
sand but like other crops if the soil is hard they need frequent cultivation and if 
tne soil is dry they need water. Any well mixed fertilizer is all right to use but 
don’t overdo it. I would prefer irrigation to too much fertilizer. At the N. E. G. 
S. Show at Boston last summer I received a Cultural Certificate for my exhibit 
and many people spoke to me and wrote me about the wonderful culture the glads 
had had. The fact was that they had had no special culture at all. They were grown 
on very poor sand and with only a fair amount of fertilizer and a couple of hoe- 
ings. But we did have a lot of rain which was responsible for the good growth and 
the condition of the blooms. 
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