of the new expensive varieties are 
definitely inferior to older varieties 
of the same color, and have been 
placed on the market only because 
they were somebody’s baby o1 be- 
cause the introducer was unacquaint- 
ed with the fine varieties already on 
the market. As proof of the above 
check the winnings of Crinkles, origi- 
nated by Kundred and introduced in 
1916, Minuet 1922 still mighty hard 
to beat, Mother Machree 1927 still 
winning plenty of prizes. There i. 
a long list that would be longer if 
we were not so prone to discard the 
old in favor of the new. This does 
not mean that there are no good new 
glads but merely that all new ones 
are not necessarily the best. Where 
competent judges are used the abitity 
to win is a very good criterion. 
The National Classification Com- 
mittee size and color class number 
as used and recognized by most Gladi- 
olus Societies in the U. S. and Canada, 
follows the date of introduction. 
In the shows varieties compee in 
these color and size classes. Under 
this classification the 100 series in- 
cludes the tiny miniatures with flor- 
ets under 21% inches in diameter. 
The 200 series is for.small glads with 
florets 2% to 3% inches in diameter. 
The 300 class is for medium sized 
glads with florets of 3% to 41% inches. 
The 400 class is for large glads with 
florets of 444 but under 5% inches 
and the 500 class is for giants with 
florets 514% inches and over in diam- 
eter. The last two figures of this 
number indicate the color group to 
which the variety belongs. Those 
ending in even numbers have pure 
self colors or blends to lighter throats 
and those ending in odd numbers are 
marked with a deeper or contrasting 
shade. These figures are based on 
average growth under good culture. 
00-09 Pure white to cream. 
10-14 Light to deep yellow. 
16-19 Light to deep buff. 
20-29 Light to deep orange. 
30-35 Light to deep salmon. 
36-39 Shades of scarlet. 
40-49 Light to deep pink. 
90-59 Light red to black red. 
60-65 Light to deep rose. 
66-69 Lavender shades 
70-75 Purple shades. 
76-79 Light to deep violet. 
80-89 Smoky shades. 
90-99 Any other color: greys, 
browns, greens, etc. 
Most bulb growers supplying the 
retail trade use three bulb sizes. 
Large bulbs (indicated by Lge. in this 
catalog) are sorted so that the mini- 
mum is 144 inches in diameter, how- 
ever most are much larger. It usu- 
ally takes two years to grow a pulb 
to this size from a bulblet, altho quite 
a large percentage of certain varie- 
ties under good culture will attain 
this size the first year. Bulbs three 
years old or over are no tonger con- 
sidered young bulbs. Medium (Med.) 
sized bulbs or yearlings as they are 
called in Australia and New Zealand 
measure % to 1% inches in diameter. 
This size often makes almost as good 
bloom as the larger size but usually 
takes longer to bloom. Small bulbs 
(Sml.) or planting stock are chose 
measuring less than 34 of an inch in 
diameter. While this size often gives 
a fairly large percentage of bloom 
in certain varieties, they are usually 
much later, smaller and often not 
quite up to par in color. Ruffled 
varieties often lack this quality in 
blooms from small bulbs. The ad- 
vantages of buying medium or small 
size bulbs are in the saving on the 
price as they usually sell for 25% to 
75% less than large bulbs, then the 
smaller sizes usually produce more 
bulblets per bulb than larger sizes 
where the bulk of the bulb strength 
goes into producing a fine flower. 
The purchasing of yearling bulbs en- 
ables the bulb grower to furnish 
young vigorous bulbs of good size to 
(5) 
