By Way of Getting Acquainted 
Our catalogue this year will reach patrons in all stages 
of the so-called Gladiolus fanaticism. Truly there is 
no hobby or business where one can gain more health- 
ful mental relaxation or enjoy and aid in the divine 
creation of beauty as expressed in flowers. No other 
flower can offer the range of color that the Gladiolus 
offers and each year adds new shades. No other flower 
has such a variety of uses in flower arrangements. 
We were impressed by the success of the Michigan 
Trial Garden in its first year of operation and look for- 
ward to new achievements in future years. Reports 
from this ‘Trial Garden are not the report on one or 
three bulbs of a variety but twelve bulbs are required, 
and lack of uniformity counts heavily against it. 
‘The M. G. 8. show in 1946 was witnessed by more 
people from more countries than have ever witnessed 
a Gladiolus show and the ’47 edition bids fair to exceed 
this record. Keep in touch with our plans by joining 
our Michigan Gladiolus Society. 
We saw a striking example at a major show of 
seedling shown by a better than average grower and the 
same variety grown by a “super-duper” “super-upper.” 
The contrast was so ridiculous that while it is fun to 
win over the latter, as we had the pleasure of doing 
a few years ago, the novice or even the expert should 
first ask “who grew this Glad?” when they are tempted 
to go overboard for a variety as seen on the show table. 
Just a word about our policy: We select bulbs for 
your order of a quality that we would like to receive 
if the order were our own. 
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY 
All stock subject to prior sale. 
Many varieties will soon be sold out. 
No order accepted after April 15th. 
Large bulbs are 114 inches and up in diameter, and 
produce the finest show spikes. 
Medium bulbs measure 34 to 114 inches and produce 
very satisfactory blooms though the average spike is 
smaller than from large bulbs. 
Small bulbs are %4 to 34 inches and sometimes produce 
small spikes. They produce larger bulbs for next year. 
They are a good way to start in with new expensive 
varieties if your budget is limited. 
Bulblets seldom bloom and are often hard to germinate. 
Experienced growers know what to do and usually peel 
all expensive varieties. 
Amateurs should try their hands at germinating low- 
priced bulblets or carefully follow the advice of exper- 
lenced growers 
THRIPS AND DISEASE CONTROL 
Our idea of well nigh perfect control would be Fall and 
Spring gassing of bulbs with Methyl Bromide in a 
specially prepared gas chamber. Just before planting 
we like to use a five-minute dip in an agitated solution 
of Mercurous Chloride (Calomel), one pound to 5 or 
10 gallons of water. This helps control Basal Rot, Hard 
Rot, Sclerotinia Seab. 
If unable to use this combination treatment we still 
like the old reliable 2 hr. soaking, just before planting, 
in Bichloride of Mercury solution prepared with one 
ounce to 74 gallons of water, using wood or crock con- 
tainer but never metal containers. 
For field control of trips and other insects the easiest 
and best control seems to be 5% DDT dust applied in 
early morning while dew is present. 
