HOLMES GLAD GARDENS 
Plymouth, Michigan 

Season of ‘48 - ‘49 
Dear Glad Fan: 
Once again it’s Glad Catalog time. The thought brings 
to mind more forcibly than ever that time really is 
fleeting. It seems that just yesterday I sat down to prepare 
the copy for our ‘47 - ‘48 catalog. Actually it was Sept. 
23, 1947, more than a year has passed since then - this 
being Oct. 11, 1948 - and with this realization and as 1 
review the year, it now is clear that this past year has 
been a most strenuous one. First there was last year’s 
bulb sales, then planting, working of the garden, selling 
of cut flowers, trips to six shows and now the beginning 
of digging. In addition to the above we have had the 
problem of increasing our bulb storage capacity and 
office space. This latter, however, has progressed fair- 
ly well and as this is being written the storage is about 
80% completed. 
The season, from a growing standpoint was excellent. 
All sizes grew well and were kept clean. The State De- 
partment of Agriculture Inspector wrote on his report: 
“Entire planting shows excellent care, growth and health 
and is passed 100%.” Needless to say this fine con- 
clusion on his report pleased us greatly. He told us, 
in addition to that remark on the written report, that 
in his opinion it was the best kept and the healthiest 
Glad planting he had inspected in 3 years. This I tell 
you with considerable pride and in turn hope it may 
have some influence on your judgment when you decide 
to buy, for, if I may repeat a remark made last year, 
you just can’t grow good glads from poor or diseased 
bulbs. 
As for the new varieties we grew on trial some proved 
bitter disappointments, while others exceeded expectations. 
Oi those that did not prove acceptable we shall reserve 
a written opinion and grow again next year, bearing in 
mind that there’s always the possibility of an acclimation 
problem, just poor growing, or for some other reason 
the variety, for one year, did not grow up to its maxi- 
mum ability. The following newer varieties did, however, 
perform in a satisfactory manner. (1) GEN. DOUGLAS 
McARTHUR (light early pink) (2) SUNSPOT (buff, 
small wine throat blotch) (3) FIREBIRD (scarlet) (4) 
WHITE CHALLENGE (white with rose blotch) (5) 
SHEELY’S  S-664-13 (yellow) (6) COLOR MARVEL 
(orange and pink) (7) HIAWATHA (scarlet) (8) VIC- 
TORY QUEEN (orange and pink) (9) SUNLIGHT 
(orange and pink) (10) MARTHA DEANE - (yellow) 
(11) LAKE PLACID (cream) (12) ALETA (orange) 
(13) BRAZIL (smoky sport of Vagabond Prince) (14) 
THE. DETROIT NEWS (lavender) and (15) SILVER 
WINGS (light cream). There were 22 other recent intro-— 
ductions we grew that just didn’t measure up but, as — 
previously stated, I won’t comment on them until grown — 
again. The fact is now generally accepted however, that | 
far too many worthless varieties are being introduced. 
Space doesn’t permit of too lengthy a discussion, here, of — 
the problem and its possible solutions but the problem 
is being challenged by most of our leading Glad So- 
cieties and it’s entirely possible that thru National Trial 
