
_ oS —, oe 
a 
this. 
HYBRIDIZATION 
| The next step in progress is hybridization. Mechanically this is simple; just brush the 
ripe pollen on to a receptive stigma — and presto — a seed pod. We print two photo- 
graphs (through the courtesy of Al Bork) which clearly shows you exactly how to do 
We will not attempt to discuss gladiolus genetics, but there are plenty of articles 
and books dealing with scientific plant breeding. 
-NEW GLADIOLUS VARIETIES 
It is from the many many thousands of seed- 
lings grown by Amateur and Professional, that 
the relatively few come that are introduced each 
year. You hear and read often the statement 
“there are too many new ones introduced—and 
most of them are not as good as those we already 
haye.’” There is a basis of truth in that kind of 
statement but simply because in the experience of 
the producer and the introducer the seedling was 
outstanding. Show table competition, unbiased 
trial garden reports, and a broader knowledge of 
gladiolus varieties on the part of the introducer, 
will do much to correct this tendency to push the 
sale of new but mediocre introductions. 
Here at Gladland Acres, we feel that Gladiolus 
improvement is in its infancy. That those which 
today seem too perfect to be improved upon, will 
tomorrow be superceded by varieties actually 
their superior. It is hard for us to realize how a 
salmon could be more beautiful than EGLAN- 
_ TINE, a rose more useful to the commercial florist 
than OREGON ROSE, a white more magnificent 
29 
than. WHITE ELEPHANT — but we do know that 
miracles in plant breeding are being achieved, 
and we confidently expect that when these do 
happen that Gladland Acres will have been alert 
enough to be among the first to offer them to you. 
We would be very unhappy if we ever came to 
feel that the ultimate in perfection had been 
reached in the development of the Gladiolus. For 
to us each growing season brings all of the rich 
anticipation of seeing new varieties for the first 
time. Realization of an ambition produces only 
temporary happiness. The Past is a turned page; 
the Present holds nothing of mystery; but in the 
Future we may exercise our God-given talent of 
imagination, and reach avidly for the Rainbow 
End, which regardless of our progress is happily 
always just beyond our reach. Gardening with 
flowers is a wholesome adventure in living, where 
achieved ‘beauty richly compensates our labor, but 
not least of its joys lie in our dreams of more 
glorious pictures yet to be nature-painted. 
