"If eyes were made for seeing, 
Beauty is its own excuse for being.” 
We are now—at the first of the year—cutting 
blooms from our larger bulbs, and enjoying the 
show made by those that “bloom out,” and es- 
pecially enjoying the rainbow bouquets that come 
from our seedling test beds. 
This is our second year’s offering of Florida 
Gladiolus Originations. Our first offering, last 
year, was well received, and brought us many 
enthusiastic comments and letters, which appear 
to confirm our selections for introduction. Also, 
the fact that twelve of our fifteen 1947 introduc- 
tions were placed at the top in their respective 
classes and won twenty-five blue ribbons in three 
eastern shows, including the Grand Champion, 
the Hall of Fame, and a Section Champion at 
Boston, is, of course, most encouraging. 
We are interested in developing new varieties 
under Florida conditions. Mr. Chase hybridizes 
and produces hundreds of seedlings each year, 
keeping those that “test out” in Florida and also 
under northern conditions, making his selections 
for appeal in beauty of color and form, not only 
to his own eye, but also in the eyes of scores 
of interested winter visitors to his seedling plots. 
As soon as sufficient stock of chosen seedlings 
has been grown, the bulbs are further tested in 
the north by growers and the blooms entered 
in the seedling shows. Only two of our offerings 
have not been shown, and that because they 
refused to bloom at just the proper time. We, 
however, have no doubt of their worth, and have 
introduced them. 
Here in Florida we have the completely 
porous ‘Norfolk Fine Sand,” Florida’s 45 to 60 
inch rainfall each year, and an abundance of 
sunshine. We also have almost the entire year 
in which we can plant, mature and harvest bulbs. 
Our practice has been to plant our selling stock in 
August, harvest it in January, store in controlled 
cold storage through February and March after 
drying and dipping, and ship in early April, Some 
factor in our culture of bulbs causes them, planted 
in the north in May, to produce outstanding vigor 
in plants and blooms, as indicated by the show 
winnings. Our bulbs are lst or 2nd year from 
bulblet, and are warranted true to variety. Safe 
delivery is guaranteed. We offer subject to our 
stock being sold out, and prepay shipment in the 
United States. Please send 25% on COD orders. 
All varieties offered here have been success- 
fully grown under northern conditions. 
