Roberts originations have brought in their share of favorable 
comment, and some of them did very well at the summer shows. 
Sun Spot’s show record in 1947 is now well known — Grand Champ 
at Maryland, New York City, and Binghamton International; 2nd day 
Champ at the Montreal (Province of Quebec) show, and Best Recent 
Introduction at Calgary, to mention its more prominent winnings. 
June Day is gaining recognition as a first early pink commercial. 
We have had it in bloom in 55-58 days; about 65 days is more usual. 
However it does not bloom out all at once as Daydream and some 
others do, but comes on over a period of a week or ten days. Red 
Cherry has beautiful color and will make a fine early cutter; good 
enough to win at the shows too, taking a first at the Keystone State 
show. Gavotte has the florescence to make it a potential show winner 
as well as a long lasting cutflower variety. It took a first at the 
Dover, N. J., show and in a vase of six best varieties at Montreal. 
Crimson Tide and Mahaska are still unique in their color classes. 
Although they don’t seem to do their best everywhere, those who do 
have good luck with these two, are very enthusiastic about them. 
First Lady apparently flecks too much to be widely popular; we still 
like it as a cutter for local use. Havana is variable. Green Gold is 
not everyone’s choice for color, but many like it. Daydream is extreme- 
ly early, but as is the case with many J. S. Bach seedlings, it makes 
a percentage of short spikes, and sometimes flecks. 
Each year we become more firmly convinced that differences of 
soil and climate make it impossible for any one person to select a 
list of “best” gladiolus for all sections of the country, Acclimatization 
may help, but it is not the whole solution. Some glads that seem quite 
mediocre in our neutral (Ph 7) sandy loam may perform beautifully 
in the heavier, more acid soils of some parts of the Midwest, and 
East. Or a variety that tends to flop or burn badly in the hot 
interior may bloom to perfection in the mild moist summers of the 
Coastal area. 
With these thoughts in mind, a few candid variety comments 
taken largely from our field notes may be of interest, as an indication 
of how they performed in one section of the country. Our favorite 
white continues to be Silver Wings, although Leading Lady is ex- 
cellent. Oriental Pearl seems destined for great popularity; a fine 
“old ivory” shade and we think it has plenty of style even though 
there is no ruffling. Lake Placid makes an excellent cut flower, the 
slight hooding is not at all unattractive. I don’t know of a better 
early white than Mt, Index — its yellow throat is a decided asset. 
A pure white that comes on nearly as early, Igloo has won much 
favor here. Pacifica is still very much worthwhile; tall. many open, 
and a fine cutter. Of the new whites, tall Strathnaver is surely one 
of the very finest. Virgin showed up much better than previously, 
it opens a lot at once. White Wings from Australia may be a con- 
tender when fully acclimated. Two heavily ruffled whites that made 
a good first impression were White Magic and the 1948 release White 
Christmas. Our favorite blotched whites are Silver Star and White 
Challenge. The former is a handsome tall pure white with a very 
distinctive light purple blotch, while White Challenge shows a softer 
rose throat on blush white ground. On the blue side of white is 
Heavenly White; a creamy white with a faint pinkish tinge is 
Beauty’s Blush. It probably takes a heavier soil than ours to bring 
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