THE NO. 5 IS A GOOD BULB 
The numerous fine reports from my customers on their success with my No. 
5, or half-inch bulbs, bear out my contention that the No. 5 bulb is a profitable size- 
to buy. Most glad fans give good care to their glads, and under such conditions the 
No. 5 bulb responds with a surprisingly nice spike of bloom. Not only do you get 
a satisfactory spike the first season, but the bulb is young and the following year 
will be its best year, and not an old worn-out bulb to deal with. Then there is the 
saving in the price. Ordinarily it takes one less year for the professional grower 
to produce a No. 5 for sale, hence the lower cost. Many large commercial growers 
for the cut flower markets use the No. 5 size quite extensively. ; 
GLADS ARE HIGH QUALITY CUT FLOWERS 
The bright and cheery glad is an indespensible on the cut flower market. It has 
earned this high regard by its many high qualities. There is such a wide variety of 
colors that anybody’s favorite color can usually be readily available, and any color 
scheme can be taken care of by the florist decorator. Glad spikes are not fragile, 
but will survive a lot of rough handling. The spikes are easy to cut, easy to handle 
and to place in any desired position, are never messy in basket or vase. Their 
lasting qualities are matched by few flowers, whether in a vase, a corsage, a 
wreath, in a refrigerator, or in the shipping crate. They bloom out beautifully to 
the last bud. They have plenty of grace and poise. Best of all, they are not temper- 
amental, but are easy and economical to grow. A very useful and beautiful flower. 
’ Glad varieties do not always possess all these qualities to the degree deemed 
necessary or profitable. Those varieties that do possess these various qualities to a 
high degree become the so-called standards. Those varieties that are conspicuously 
lacking in any of these essentials are sooner or later abandoned. Hundreds of acres 
of glads are grown for the cut flower markets in all parts of the country. These 
growers cannot afford to handle varieties that do not possess certain important 
characteristics to a high degree. There must be plenty of bulblets that sprout 
readily and grow rapidly. The plant itself must be sturdy, disease-resistant and 
thrifty. There must be a high percentage of salable spikes, with few short stems, 
misplaced florets and crooked spikes. The spike must be tough and willowy, with 
the buds close-fitting to the stem, for safe handling and shipping, the petals not 
crimping or breaking easily. The buds must open well after being cut, retaining 
size and color up the spike. The colors must be clear and bright, and must satisfy 
the popular demand. 
In general, these same qualities are demanded by the home gardener. They 
are qualities that make for success in the average garden. While the darker colors 
and the smokies are in less demand in the florist shop, they appear bright and 
cheery out in the garden, and they do have a place in the heart of the glad lover. 
And there are lots of folks who are willing to put up with a crooked spike or a 
short flower-head or a misplaced floret in order to enjoy a lovely color that may 
not be obtainable elsewhere. 
YOU MAY ORIGINATE A LOVELY GLAD 
There is a real chance that you may find a new and better glad in your own 
back yard some fine day. Possibilities for improvement over the existent varieties 
are unlimited. Scores of glad fans are now originators of famous varieties. 
In general, like produces like in glads as in any other line of breeding, though 
the hybrid character of glads makes the resultant progeny mighty uncertain. But 
there is a real chance for you if you will try out numerous crosses and study the 
results. 
The best time to apply the pollen to the pistil of the seed parent is the mid- 
forenoon on sunny days. No need to cover the bloom, as what pollenizing is done 
by the wind or bees is negligible. The plants from the glad seed are like the plants 
from bulblets except that they are smaller. They must be protected from the sun 
by lath frames, and must be kept moist. Most of them bloom the following year, 
but it will be two or three years before you can determine their real character. 
