Mary Odell 
MARY ODELL (F. C. Cave 1948) Closs 400, 
early mid-season. One glance at the photo- 
graphed spike of this superlative white, will in- 
dicate why we rate it so highly, and you can 
grow it just as well because it is so consistent 
in performance. Named Mary Odell in honor 
of Mrs. James H. Odell, whose husband has 
done so much to promote interest in Gladiolus 
cuture, and who has assisted so greatly in 
building the New England Gladiolus Society to 
a field that is both National and International 
in scope. It seems to us most appropriate that 
Mr. Cave should thus express his appreciation 
of time and energy that has been given so free- 
ly by James Odell to advance the progress of 
ihe Gladiolus Industry. 
The growth is vigorous, so vigorous that il 
requires deep planting to obtain the firm foot- 
ing required to hold it. The foliage is a heavy 
dark green, and it seems to be disease resistant 
to a high degree. Be sure to note the photo- 
graph ofa basket of MARY ODELL as pictured 
in the 1948 NEGS YEAR BOOK. The flower 
head is 26-30,” with 20 to 26 buds of which it 
opens ten wide with 4 more in color. The place- 
ment is near perfect and so correctly spaced as 
to give the spike a most appealing effect. Op- 
ens well when cut in tight bud and keeps better 
in water than most. Dr. Graff who has been 
testing this for three years, reports that bulblets 
were plentiful and germination good and that 
cracked bulblets bloomed profusely in Sep- 
tember. He uses an adjective that impresses 
us greatly when he states “it produces precision 
spikes, up to 60 inches in height in the field,” 
because this so well describes a typical charac- 
teristic of this fine release. Tom Manley, who 
grows many of the new ones prior to actua’ 
introduction, lists MARY ODELL in his prefer 
ence list of whites for the eastern area. 

MARY ODELL 
The price is lower than previous Cave releases — simply because it has been longer 
under test and stocks are more plentiful — altho not TOO plentful as we have only 
enough bulbs to provide 1 bulb for every third person who receives this catalog. Grow- 
ers units (only 16 available) are offered on Page 10. 
Price Each: Large $3.50; Medium $3.00; Small $2.50; Bulblets, 10 for $3.50 
Price per 10: Large $28.00; Medium $24.00; Small $20.00; Bulblets per 100, $28.00 
re 
