FROM AMATEUR TO PROFESSIONAL 
lt is only a matter of time before many amateurs, to a greater or lesser extent, 
turn professional at least to the point where income from cut flowers and sale of bulbs 
to their neighborhood friends makes the hobby self-sustaining and permits of ample in- 
vestment in the new varieties, without any drain on the regular business income. We 
personally went thru all these stages—until with us Glads are now a full-time really en- 
joyable business—and one that is not without profit. 
It is surprising what may be accomplished on a small garden plot or on a vacant 
city lot. An area SO by 140 feet, tilled with either a wheel hoe or a garden tractor, has 
space to produce 800 dozen gladiolus spikes. 
If you start with good cut-flower varieties, 
this quantity should find ready sale in even the smallest community—especially if plant- 
ing is extended so that you have a long blooming period. 

LADY ANNE 
This was one of the sensations of our test garden 
in the white shades. A Buchanan introduction — 
and to us — his finest release to this date. It will 
be a great cut-flower variety. 
PLANTING FOR CUT FLOWERS 
Choice of Varieties: This is one of the important 
questions which must be answered correctly if your 
cut flower crop is to prove profitable. A cut flower 
variety sells most readily if the flower size is in the 
400 or 500 class. The colors must be clear and 
pleasing; the texture of the floret of sufficient dur- 
ability that it will not wilt quickly; the attachment of 
the floret to the stem should be such that, it will not 
break off easily in handling; the spike must have 
the ability to open and hold in good condition—at 
least six florets— and if it can open more, so much 
the better. The variety must be capable of opening 
all of its buds in water when cut with one bud only 
partly open. If your market is to wholesale florists 
your varieties must be good shippers. Preferably 
the spike should be tall altho some of the most 
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beautiful and desired varieties as Elizabeth the 
Queen, are on the short side. The stem should be 
stout, and wiry, so that it droops less quickly in the 
field. The growing habits are quite important — 
the variety should be healthy and vigorous with the 
ability to produce almost 100% of good spikes from 
the bulbs you plant. Some of our loveliest varieties 
are temperamental — blooming beautifully and gen- 
erously some seasons — in others proving most dis- 
appointing. A cut flower variety to be profitable 
aust be dependable. Above all, the varieties must 
be superior to those which have been generally 
grown in the past. In a dull market the old well 
known varieties cannot compete with the newer va- 
rieties which have been developed. Keep your 
variety list just a year better than the common run 
that growers have in their fields and you will have 
no marketing problem. Be sure that each year you 
try out a few new ones—not too many of each— 
until you see how they behave in your soil. Of those 
that prove better than the ones you are already 
growing — plant generously next year. Don’t hesi- 
tate to junk an inferior variety — build a reputation 
for quality spikes. 
Choice of Colors: If you plan to sell your spikes 
to a local florist, he will most probably buy about 
25% whites and very light creams, about 50% 
salmon and pastel pinks, with the remaining 25% 
of reds, yellows, purples, oranges, etc. combined. 
He will want mostly self colors, without prominent 
blotched or throat markings. The reason for his 
choice of color is the fact that about 75% of his use 
of gladiolus is for funeral sprays and designs. For 
weddings he uses mostly whites. When he is sup- 
plying baskets for banquets, business openings, and 
parties, then the bolder colors are desired, with tall 
spikes bringing premium prices for such use. 
If you. are selling from a stand or to a public 
market, where the spikes eventually are used for 
house decoration, then you will find that almost ev- 
ery color is in demand, and thai the warm toned 
smokies and the brown hues of the 90 color class 
are very much in demand because they are so dif- 
ferent and have such exquisite color blendings. A 
great field exists in gladiolus sales for the home and 
office. This field has barely been opened — it can 
be expanded enormously. 
Quality of Bulbs: The first requisite of success in 
flower growing, is healthy stock. No amount of care 
can produce good spikes from diseased bulbs. Never 
