To all Gladiolus Growers, Greetings: 
The year 1944 marks the passing of 18 years time during which I have 
attempted by reason of my admiration for them, the culture of our modern 
Gladiolus. During this period of time, I have tried out, to discard later, 
a vast array of them—some because they were not up to the standard of 
what I knew the better ones to be capable of and many because of per- 
sonal preferences—this latter reason being one which I find can not be 
carried out to the exclusion of not raising them for others who may prefer 
them, still maintaining the policy of not offering for sale such as I believe 
not worthy of culture. There are being grown and will be for some time 
to come, many of the older varieties which still hold their own in merit 
against competition of newer originations offered each year. Each year 
sees. many new offerings which are outstanding. In this, my third attempt 
of listing corms for sale, I shall try to cover the entire color range so far 
as possible with representative values from both the old and the new. Cer- 
tain varieties will not do their best every year in all localities, or under ad- 
verse conditions. None should expect to grow exhibition spikes simply by 
planting bulbs in the ground and then neglecting culture, spraying, etc. 
Given proper attention, I know of no other in the floral kingdom quite as 
responsive as our modern Gladiolus. Instructions covering all phases of 
culture are included in each shipment of bulbs we send out. 
BULB SIZES 
Bulbs are herewith classified as being L., for large, M., for medium and 
S., for small. L sizes consist of Nos. 1 and 2. 1’s being over 14% inches 
and 2’s from 1% to 1% inches in circumference. M sizes consist of Nos. 
3 and 4’s, 3’s being between 1 and 14 and 4’s between 1 and % inches in 
circumference. S sizes are Nos. 5 and 6’s, 5’s being between 1% and % 
and 6’s are under % inch circumference. In making up orders under 
named sizes we attempt to make an equal representation of bulbs as he- 
tween the two in that class insofar as our stock at the time will allow. 
Planting large size bulbs of any variety is no positive indication that you 
may have only the largest size bloom possible from that specific origina- 
tion unless you are sure of the age of the bulb planted—large planting 
stock*sometimes has passed its age cycle for maximum flowering produc- 
tivity. Small sized bulbs in many of our later originations make an amaz- 
ing flower spike. Buy only young vigorous stock to obtain ultimate pro- 
ductivity. 
BULBLET STCCK 
The statement that certain varieties of Gladiolus Bulblets do not 
germinate to a high percentage of the number planted is true if taken in 
the sense as we culture them. Gladiolus in its originality was a native 
of equatorial Africa, its natural environment the wet “rainy’’ season dur- 
ing which it grew, and the arid “dry” season during which it remained 
dormant, its “resting” period. With the tendencies of Nature to perpet- 
uate herself against adversities—some Bulblets would germinate the first 
growing season, many not until after succeeding ones. It has been dis- 
covered in our modern culture that in order to produce a greater germina- 
tion of Bulblets during our season’s planting period that we may obtain 
fair results by soaking Bulblets in water for a period of time shortly 
previous to their being planted. An even better method, one practiced 
by many before planting the rarer high priced ones, is to peel or at least 
break their hard shell by rolling between thumb and finger. One of the 
very latest methods highly recommended is the chemical treatment, where- 
