EO RE WW @ hab 
In presenting my 1948 catalog, I once again take this opportznity 
to extend greetings to all my customers and friends, and to express my 
appreciation for the splendid business given me by them last season. It 
seems but a few short months since I sat down to write my 1947 cata- 
log, but the present season is now almost a matter of history and 1948 
is just around the corner. From coast to coast, the present season has 
probably been the most difficult one of the past decade, cold and con- 
tinuous rains delaying planting in some areas until late June and even 
July, and the extreme heat wave and consequent drouth which followed, 
made July and early August anything but favorable to gladiolus. I do 
believe, however, that Southern Wisconsin was in a most favored area 
and present prospects at this writing of September 5th appear favorable 
for a fairly normal crop of bulbs, depending naturally upon continued 
good growing weather and an absence of frost during the critical per- 
iod of late September. 
1947 was surely a perplexing year to evaluate seedlings and new 
introductions and in view of this widely discussed subject in current 
Gladiolus Society Bulletins, I feel that a few words on this topic may 
not be out of order here. May I repeat the thought of what I stated 
in my 1947 Foreword, that I believe hybridizers are conscientio:s at 
heart and if they do make a serious mistake it will react more on them 
than on the purchaser of their introduction. I do not believe in con- 
demning a new variety on one year’s trial because so many factors enter 
intq the perfect bloom spike. Varieties which are at their best in heavy 
soils may be very ordinary in lighter ones. Glads which may appear 
insignificant during the early part of the season often are outstanding 
from later plantings. Trial gardens will help some but I do not believe 
they offer the perfect solution. 
Consider the stellar variety Leading Lady, for instance. I have 
been told that. this is not at its best in some sections of the far West. 
Elizabeth The Queen does not grow uniformly tall, but is still rated as 
the most beautiful lavender. Now, if these varieties had been sent to 
various trial gardens prior to introduction, it is certain that they woald 
not have received an excellent rating from all. But I am quite sure 
that no one would say that the Gladiolus world should have been de- 
prived of the beauty of these glads, simply because they did not per- 
form satisfactory in all soils and climates. Fortunately there are a 
few varieties that appear able to perform under adverse conditions and 
these are the ones that should be grown heavily by the commercial 
grower of cut flowers. But for the real glad fan and exhibitor, the 
thrill comes from anticipating the bloom which he will get from the 
purchase of the new introductions. The situation might well be com- 
pared to athletic sports. There would be no thrill in attending these 
contests if one always knew in advance just what the outcome would be. 
In looking over the list of present offerings, a few facts may also 
be considered. The list of named varieties in commerce is now so large 
that no one grower can hope to catalog all. The fact that a variety, 
previously cataloged, is not offered currently, should not be taken as a 
reflection on that variety. Several factors may have contributed to its 
absence. Sales in ’47 may have depleted stocks so that there are not 
sufficient bulbs to offer this season. In the case of a late introduction, 
it is often advisable to build up stocks. Or one of the older varieties 
may have to make room for a newer one. Conversely it must not be 
assumed that all varieties listed have been exceptional for me this sea- 
son. They are offered for those who may be able to grow them better 
than I do. Every effort has been made to present a well balanced list 
of varieties, comprising the best of both the old and the new, and they 
are offered with confidence that in the main they will please and add 
glory to your garden. Color and size classification are indicated where 
such information is available but no attempt has been made to give 
