GREETINGS TO } H 
EVERY WHERE 
The 1947 growing season in lowa was a difficult one but the Glads came through 
with flying colors. During May and June we had rain and floods and only limited time 
for planting. We did manage to plant during April and May the newer and more 
valuable varieties and these produced very well indeed. However, about one-third of 
our bulb stocks were never planted, due to excessive water, and this will account for 
the absence in our list of many well known varieties previously catalogued. The rains 
finally stopped during July then during August we were having drought. During this 
period we used sprinklers so were able to keep our Glad plantings growing nicely. Rains 
came early in September giving adequate moisture to finish the growing season. We had 
fine Indian summer weather all through October up to November 5th when the first 
killing frost arrived. This gave a long growing period which completed bulb growth to 
make heavy, high crowned young bulbs. 
This year we will skip the usual chatter about merits of the newer varieties and 
give our fans something different to read. We hope at least to sell enough bulbs to 
pay for this publication; anyway we will take a chance and if necessary cut it out next 
year. We are one of the smaller growers, always interested in growing and testing the 
newer varieties as they come along. The labor situation is so tight around here we 
cannot count on getting help with regularity, so unable to grow the lower priced varie- 
ties In quantity. While we may be low in quantity we hope to rate high in quality. 
DO GLADS CHANGE COLOR? 
Well, yes and no. But not as often as some back yard growers think. The question 
usually comes from people who have grown a few odd bulbs along with petunias, nastur- 
tiums and phlox. Beginners usually start with a mixture of bulbs and the first year 
enjoy a riot of color. Among the varieties current a few years ago, several were very 
susceptible to disase rots and at the same time were poor propagators, Within two 
or three years these poor doers had fallen by the wayside. In that day the best per- 
formers were a few sorts we say came from Primulinus ancestry. These varieties were 
good propagators and the bulbs resistant to disease. Within four or five years some 
gardeners have been reduced to one or two of the strongest growing varieties. If bulblets 
were planted for increase the process of elimination might be hastened somewhat. Soon 
there were too many bulbs, so only the best looking ones were saved. In several cases 
reported the end result was that only yellow or orange colors remained. 
Yes, Glads may change color but it seems to happen rarely. Where acres of one 
variety such as Picardy are grown, perhaps one plant in a million may show a different 
color; usually some lighter color like buff, white or cream. Several good varieties have 
appeared in this way, namely Silver Wings, Leading Lady, Kelsey and a dozen others 
we call color sports have been derived from Picardy. Not all sports are valuable, since 
many of them are no improvement on the parent stock, or other varieties of similar color. 
We have had a dozen or so color sports appear in our own plantings, some rather inter- 
esting or pleasing shades but only one or two that could be called desirable improve- 
ments. Wagabond Prince is a dark colored variety, evidently a combination of several 
deep color pigments, for it has produced a good number of sports, some quite valuable 
like Hawkeye Red, Orange Prince and Orvag. We have had two or three color sports 
from this variety in our own plantings. Glads as well as other plants have not only 
produced color sports, but changes in floret form may take place; added ruffling of the 
petals for instance. What has produced these changes in color and even form? That is 
indeed a very intriguing question but geneticists have an answer for some cases. To bet- 
ter understand what may take place one should do some reading on the subject of 
genetics. Experimental genetics has produced some strange and remarkable changes 
in the form of plants and some animals (Drosophila flies, for example). Treatment of 
individuals with radiant energy (X-rays) has produced changes in their progeny. Ex- 
posure to radiant energy of several different wave lengths has been found to affect the 
germ cells and even somatic cellular tissue. In most cases injury results but in others 
slight changes may occur which do not appear to be harmful. Lately we have reports 
that mustard gas is being used experimentally to produce mutations or sports in plants 
and insects. This is an active experimental field at the present time and no doubt inter- 
esting results will be forthcoming. 
