
FIFTEEN MOST PGPULAR VARIETIES IN 1948 
We like to make ourselves think we can judge the most popular varieties in our 
fields, at the end of each season! But if we had to cut down to fifteen varieties 
for the 1949 season, and still sell bouquets off the highway, it would probably be 
some such list as this: 
BEAUTY’S BLUSH HUNTRESS PHANTOM BEAUTY 
BUCKEYE BRONZE MAGNOLIA SPIC & «SPAN, — 
BURMA MISS WISCONSIN SPOTLIGHT 
ELIZABETH THE QUEEN LEADING LADY SUNSPOT 
EVANGELINE RED CHARM ROSY LIGHT 
All right; pick them to pieces and tell us about fifteen better. We like to get 
letters with good solid criticism in them. We could add ten more to this list and 
feel better, but the above would produce a swell garden. Let us have your selections 
—see how we compare! 
OUR TRIAL GARDEN: 
For the first time in growing glads, we laid out a.TRIAL GARDEN, in our 
field where the plants might have extra irrigation and cultivation. We have never 
used fertilizer in our lives; depending entirely on our fertile Iowa soil for max- 
imum growth. Our record at the Sioux City and Omaha shows speaks for itself. 
This trial garden comprised about an acre of ground and over a hundred varieties were 
planted there. We were permitted to grow a number of seedlings from a prominent hy- 
bridizer, and they made a great showing for us. Among the “named” varieties that 
thrilled us greatly were the following: Strawberry Peach, Sunspot, Mighty Monarch, 
Red Wing, Beauty’s Blush, Rose Charm, Spic & Span, Phantom Beauty, Evangeline, 
Tralee, Sparks, Seashell, Chic, Blue Lagoon, Lady Marian, Aviatrice, Mountain Gem, 
Donella, (so early), Fuchia Queen, Buckeye Queen, Black Panther, Abigail, Treasure 
Island, Trocadero, and over a thousand large bulbs of Burma were in this plot of 
ground, and their bloom was tremendous. We placed some of the older varieties there to 
watch performance; and to enable us to make comparison with some of the new 
things. Connecticut Yankee and Lipstick, for instance. Among the seedlings was 
a dark red from Carl Fischers garden which he alludes to as an improved Dr. Hoeg. 
It was very tall, slender and graceful, and could open eight or nine in the field 
without burning. The black red florets were not large, but the spikes were wonderful. 
A dark rose variety (seedling) from Fischers, won championship in the Omaha 
show. We bloomed about three thousand seedlings of our own, making twenty-eight 
selections which we will grow on test. Some of them seemed to have possibilities; 
as compared to existing varieties. 
Some of the above varieties did not prove to be too strong in our extreme climate, 
and in some cases the bulbs did not hold up; but we gave them all equal treatment, 
and we think we learned.some things. It was great fun. We will have another trial 
garden this season. Will also grow seed from about 300 crosses. A lot of work, 
but a lot of fun. We have also learned that we might as well discard some varieties 
—always a painful task. It is going to be hard to say good-bye to some of them, 
for instance Margaret Beaton, she was a great girl in her time. Still a healthy kid 
too. Algonquin seems to have given up in our soil, just wants to leave us, it) seems. 
Well, Red Wing and Red Penny are nice. So, what? 
VARIETIES THAT BLOOM WELL FROM PEELED BULBLETS 
Beauty’s Blush Siboney Hildred 
Burma Phantom Beauty Sparks. 
Blue Lagoon Sherman Klondike 
Fay Donella Spotlight 
Huntress Myrna Fay Stoplight 
Lavender & Gold Spic & Span Treasure Island 
Lady Marian Strawberry Peach Mt. Index 
Birch Red Mayling . Rosy Light 
VARIETIES THAT PRODUCE MANY BULBLETS: 
Beauty’s Blush Sparks Spotlight Red Charm 
Victory Queen Spic & Span Myrna Fay Purple Supreme 
Orange Gold Phantom Beauty Lady Marian Mayling 
Blue Lagoon Rose Charm Poet’s Dream Mt. Index 
Parine Wedgewood Lavender & Gold Van Gold 
Fay Evangeline Birch Red Sherman 
Huntress Daisy Mae ~ Klondike * ° Robinson Crusoe 
Cherry Jam Kenwood Hearts Desire Dusty Miller 
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