The Midwest year was. a marvelous one - another year of grand 
bloom and in the big Wisconsin State show a second year glad 
grower swept the show with the finest flowers I have ever seen 
from an individual grower. A large number of exhibitors won 
firsts - more than I can remember before - all of which is 
proof positive that ANY grower - following the rules for good 
growing and using good varieties - can grow championship 
blooms. Wightman, the new Wisconsin champion, is a farmer 
and was showing at his second show. To those who want champion- 
ship bloom simply read over the growing instructions. Be sure 
you have enough food in the soil - with the proper balance. 
Plant deep. Shallow planting won't do for maximum growth. 
Give plenty of water. Keep the weeds down. Keep the bugs off. 
From May 5th to June 10th we had wet and cold - temperature 
of 26 above for five nights in a row. Result was the 189 
varieties I had in the ground were checked in the growing - 
apparently stood still and did nothing during those 36 days - 
and all blooming dates were about 30 days late. This meant I 
had very little to take to shows and what I had was not tops. 
At Ottawa's big show where there were from 35 to 45 entrees in 
every class - nearly - my flowers were fine but there were a 
large number of exhibitors and everybody - simply everybody - 
came with marvelous, perfectly grown flowers of great beauty. 
This pleased me very much for it means something of terrific 
importance to gladiolus - that ANYONE can grow championship 
glads if they follow the rules of good growing. It means the 
winning of the shows is not in the pocket of a few crack 
growers - there is nothing any of them can do that any grower 
can't do - if he wants to. 
As the years go by I watch my list of best rated glads grow 
more and more beautiful - and also more dependable. What has 
happened to North American gladiolus in the last five years has 
been that new varieties have been developed that have made the 
gladiolus larger and even more beautiful than ever before. The 
gladiolus is not only the most beautiful of all flowers - but 
it is everybody's flower - any one can grow it - the growing 
rules are simple - and it is no hardship to spray once a week 
regularly. Thrip bothered in the Midwest this year as a snow 
blanket thruout winter kept the ground from freezing and the 
thrips wintered over. But next year I expect to hear very 
little from thrip. Half of Midwest growers - or about that 
many - had no thrip whatsoever. Start spraying sure when the 
leaves are not over 5 inches high and spray regularly before 
the first spikes come and you will have no trouble. 
NO 1946 INTRODUCTIONS 
Monk May and I, in our respective gardens, test grew close 
to eighty seedlings and of those about 12 looked very good but 
because the season was short, with too much cold and wet and 
not enough dry heat we are not sure the seedlings were grown 
tops so are holding all for another year as we aim never to 
introduce any seedling as a variety offered for sale until we 
are sure it is good - and a contribution to its size and color 
class - and capable of being rated in the list of best rated 
glads. So no new introductions this year - tho we had them - 
and some very good ones - growing in our gardens, I am reason- 
ably sure. 
CORSA coe eaaaoutontoeieets 
Price List- D465 
Here are 100 of the best glads in their size and color class 
plus 4 others explained in their description. There are plenty 
of low priced varieties - 45 varieties being from 10¢ to 35¢ 
per L. All prices are strictly competitive except a very few 
where the price is a little higher because I think they are 
worth it. NO ORDERS FILLED AFTER APRIL 1ST - PLEASE. April 
first have to get ready to start planting. The orders are 
filled in order received so the earlier orders have more bulbs 
to select from. All bulbs are free from disease and clean - 
each having been treated with both D.D.T. and rotenone powders. 
There is still a bulb shortage and most growers sell out before 
planting time. 
WHITE 
MARY KATHLEEN. 400 class, Kinyon, 43 inch florets, 60 inch 
spike, opens 10 - on always straight spike - never crooks - 
slightly ruffled - a pure white color - grand glad and a grand 
performer. Is the best 400 class white. Gets better every 
year. Florists like a pure dead white and this is nearest to 
it. L. $.100 M. 75 S.50 bb 10-$1.00. 
ANAMAE, 400 class, Pommert, 4% inch florets - an informal 
formal - of fine pure white color. Is a proven dependable 
fine commercial - was a commercial for years before originator 
sold any bulbs - florists like very much - good cutter, good 
shipper and good record of winning on show tables. Not as 
good in '45 as in '44 but has been good for years and it is 
okay. L.20 M. 2-30 S 3-30. 
WHITE HOPE, 300 class, May, a many opened good colored white 
with amazing but variable performance record. Can open 10 and 
best spikes are wonderful - with a stiff, tough, well attached 
floret that stands up a long time. Florets run to 4% inches 
often. For show spikes de-eye bulb - tho that same rule ap- 
plies to any variety. Performance still being watched and 
still undetermined whether this is a world beater or "just 
another glad." Petals recurved. Formal. L. or M. only for 
$1.00 per bulb. 
MYRNA, 400 class, Pruitt, is slightly creamy ruffled white 
that will open 10 and has long list of grand championships to 
its credit. Possibly more than any other glad - not sure. 
Best spikes formal and of great beauty and awfully hard to beat 
on the show table. Rates 85 easily except that its performance 
is variable - some growers can't get a good one - others get 
super glads. So it is a gamble what it will do for you. L. 
only 15¢. : 
EXCLUSIVE, 500 class, Kreuger 1945 introduction. Dandy model 
spike - a nice white but a little color - not pronounced - in 
center. Somewhat ruffled - and one of only 3 whites in exist- 
ence in the 500 class. Neat, trim spike - opening 6 to 8 - 
straight spike ~ okay. L. $2.00 M. $1.50. 
P 39 (Silver Wings), Ritsema, 500 class. This undoubtedly 
great glad is a white on cream side - but still a white. Re- 
ported a Picardy child but not sure. Is ruffled, big - opens 
5 - and is great beauty and a good one almost a sure winner on 
show table and was for years a successful proven commercial be- 
fore ever released for retail sales. No need for me to say more 
as this is now well known glad. L. $5.00 no M. S. :$3.00. 
NORTH POLE, 400 class - fine new white that you can't help 
but like and will be seen on lots of show tables soon as it is 
better known. Moderately priced - it has fine pure white color 
and nicely proportioned straight spike. May prove excellent 
commercial. Don't know whether this one or Annamae is the 
better. L. 50¢ M. 40¢ S. 30¢. 
CASABLANCA, 300 class - good 8 open white. Personally I did 
not rate it among the best and am getting rid of the bulbs but I 
have so many reports that it is a fine white for others I may be 
wrong about it - so am selling the bulbs instead of throwing 
them into my mixture. A great many growers say this is a fine 
white. L. 40¢. 
CREAM 
WHITE GOLD, 506 class, George Scheer - is still king of the 
creams tho Leading Lady very fine indeed. White Gold is fine 
real cream with marvelously beautiful yellow center that lights 
it up and makes everybody love it. Has great up to 7 inch 
florets - 4-6 open - decorative - and I have never known any 
glad that so takes everybody by storm the first time they see 
it. Grand grower - grows for any one - blooms from all size 
bulbs - grand increaser - bb all grow - and grow good - best 
money maker for those who buy it in last 10 years. L 35¢ M. 25¢ 
S. 20¢ Bb. 30-$1.00. 
EE 
Your list arrived a few days ago. J like it's get up and 
unbtased remarks very much. JI believe you have some things all 
growers of glads should be interested in regardless if hobbyist’ 
or commercial grower. J.K. - Riverdale, N.Y. 
