it does 10 giant floets of brilliant orange scarlet. Fuchsia Belle has 
superceded the older Dream of Beauty and Burma surely rates as the 
most beautiiul rose red. The newer Hiawatha and Birch Red are both 
capable of producing exhibition spikes. If larawa only grew taller it 
would be a candidate ior top honors. JI still like it, however, for its 
other good qualities. A real addition to the reds is Red Wing. I was 
permitted to grow 5 bulbs this season, each producing gun barrel spikes 
with up to 380 inch flowerheads and a minimim of 21 buds, the photo- 
graph reproduced herewith illustrating a typical spike. Paul Robeson, 
Royal Garnet and Mrs. R. G. Errey present an admirable trio of black 
reds, though I predict that Rich’s Black Cherry will prove to be the 
winner in this color group, opening as it does 7 to 9, 6 inch florets, and 
showing no inclination to burn in the field, as is common to most gladio- 
lus in this color class. 
The lavender section is one of the most popular and in any sym- 
posium, Elizabeth The Queen continues to take top honors. Two which 
bloom early are Huntress and Myrna Fay. Both will fleck, but regular 
performance offsets this defect. Myrna Fay is taller, while Huntress 
is distinguished by its perfect formal placement. Minstrel still is the 
size champion, while Wedgewood presents the other extreme. This one 
will be loved for its ruffling, daintiness and pure color; I find it more 
lavender than blue. I have had no opportunity to judge the merits of 
Patrician, though I understand it has been well received and is being 
stocked by commercial growers. It was introduced as the first true 
lavender since Minuet. Tunia’s Masterpiece offers an opportunity for 
fans and exhibitors to try what Tunia Service consider their best offer- 
ing to date. Lucky looks like a large edition of Badger Beauty, Abigail 
merits commercial consideration while Lavender Prince is the deepest 
colored member of this class. I understand Mr. Allen’s lavender seed- 
ling which won popular acclaim and honors at Cleveland in ’46, will 
be introdued this season as Siboney. It should be one to look forward to. 
There are apparently no new outstanding purples on the market, 
Purple Supreme taking care of the commercial end whil2 a good spike 
of Lancaster is still hard to beat on the show table. Smokies surely 
cannot be classed as commercial glads though florists can use a limited 
quantity, being at their best in combination with yellow or white. The 
exhibitor has a good group to select from in Oklahoma, Flying Fortress 
and Tunia’s Mahomet. Blue Lagoon appears to be the tallest of the 
so-called blues; florets may be spaced too far apart. Holland has given 
us a glad of beautiful deep violet in Abu Hassan, color reminiscent of 
Pelegrina but with an improvement in stem. Blue Orchid lacks strength 
of stem but the color is magnificent and will be of great value for cor- 
sage work. The above represents a consens/s of my opinions as gained 
from appraisals in my fields and from observations at ‘A ehOoWS eee 
would hardly expect all opinions to concur; next season May even alter 
my own. No one could rightfully give an ironclad list of the best va- 
rieties but a dozen of my own favorites would surely include Wax Model, 
Leading Lady, Oriental Pearl, Spotlight, Phantom Beauty, Connecticut 
Yankee, Spic and Span, Miss Wisconsin, Summer Gal, Intruder, Eliza- 
beth The Queen and Burma. My best wishes go to each and evervone 
for success in their 1948 gardens. May your glads be bigger and finer 
than even in your dreams. 
ae a IOS 
COTY, 
Sw / 
Ss 
COVER ILLUSTRATION — EVANGELINE 
