Page 26 THE GLADIOLUS FANCIER’S 

542 ESSA MARIE (Coutts) (our ’46 import 550 MID-AMERICA (Knierim-Evans ’47) 
release) M. Mild, soft, deep pink that 
never flecks or fades. Eight to nine 6 
inch wide, round florets can open on a 
strong spike that never crooks. Good 
commercial habits and has entered the 
grand champion column. 
L .25 M .20 Bits (100, $1.) (1000, $5.). 
443 NECIA (Both ’45) (our ’49 import 
release) M. Though Mr. Both describes 
this glad as salmon pink, we consider it 
to be deep pink, the depth of color’ 
seemingly to be made up of an inter- 
mixture of some salmon and some rose. 
Has a rather prominent cyclamen blotch 
making it a very pleasing and harmonious 
color combination. The tall, strong 
spikes bordering on very tall, show real 
power and heavy substance. The florets 
are at the top of the 400 size range and 
occasionally go beyond 6 inches. We have 
been growing stock of this variety several 
years, becoming more and more impressed 
with its good propagation and fine com- 
mercial habits and pleasing color. Very 
outstanding. We entered a spike in the 
Ohio RI show, ’48, for a first. 
Each L $1.50 M $1.00 S .50 Bits .10 
(100, $7.). 
542 PERSONALITY (Butt-Evans ’47) M. 
Basic color is deep pink slightly rosy 
toned. This glad looks equally good for 
exhibition and for commercial use. Most 
every spike appears to be of show cham- 
pion quality. Tall, powerful plants, 7-9 
open in the field. Of the many “deep 
pink Picardys,’”’ most of them sports, this 
is the only one that has satisfied us. A 
first noted at Tri State, ’48. Propaga- 
tion and reduced prices now make this 
variety a bargain. 
Each L $1.00 S .40 Blts .06 (100, $4.). 
LIGHT RED—50 Series 
550 ANIMATION (Butt °47) LM. Bright, 
medium-light red with small cream throat 
lines. 6 inches up florets, 6-7 open. 
Responds quickly with extra size via 
“shot in the arm’ methods (liquid 
manure, blood meal, ammonium = sul- 
phates and nitrates, etc.) applied at 
early bud stage. Appears to be sturdy 
enough in its habits to warrant listing 
(and buying) at current price. 
Each L $1.00 M .60 S .40 Blts .10. 
M. The first variety we have offered, 
raised by one of our customers from seed 
(cross 486, Red Charm x Snow Cruiser) 
offered in our catalog. May any similar 
subsequent offers be as good! 
Color clear, brilliant light red, unmarked. 
Mammoth, smooth, round florets around 
7 inches diameter and more, well attached 
on very tall spikes, 26 buds on extra strong 
stems, as well as extra long flowerheads, 
33-36 inch heads being almost an average 
for large bulb production. Foliage is 
wide and heavy and tall, even that of 
bulblets growing 30 inches tall. About 
a fourth of the bulblets bloom. Even 
tiny bulbs hardly larger than bulblets, 
planted 2 inches apart have made many 
spikes 60-66 inches tall, with foliage 36 
inches tall, opening 10 giant florets. 
In our small bulb field, “48, we planted 
3 long rows of Mid-America No. 5-6-7 
bulbs (the tiny ones obtained because we 
couldn’t forego planting the pee wee 
bulblets the year before). Their growth 
was the most amazing in our 20 odd years 
of experience. Planted 3 inches deep, 
the stalks ran almost entirely between 1 
to 134 inches diameter at point of emer- 
gence from the ground, expanding rapidly 
with foliage from there. The wide 
foliage ran almost entirely 3-4 feet high. 
The flower* heads began almost entirely 
at 42-50 inch height and stretched to a 
good average of 6 feet. We allowed at 
least 80% of them to bloom out on the 
plants where 7-10 opened before the 
bottom floret aged and in spite of one 
short gale with 55 mile gusts not one of 
the thousands crooked a particle. 
So many hundreds of visitors checked this 
stunning growth at show time here and 
dozens thereafter at period of peak of bloom 
that any who question it will ultimately 
apologize. For this is a matter that 
anyone with a few small bulbs can corro- 
borate for himself and hundreds who 
bought bulblets 2 years ago can testify. 
You do not have to plant the bulbs in 
paper drinking cups as one party did 
(and credited the method) to get this 
phenomenal growth. Just give them 
room as they are powerful and plant them 
in the normal way. Such is Mid-America. 
Limiting our reporting for ’48 to the 10 
prominent glad shows we attended and 
additional shows reported in recent 
magazines of the N.A.G.C. and N.E.G:S. 
Mid-America drew 31 firsts (including 
Binghamton, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, 
“Had 3 wonderful spikes Mid-America but a week late 
for Sacramento show. 12 open, 35” head, 5 feet and better.”’ 
Frank. F. Lund, Calif. 
Boston, Detroit, etc.), 2 grand cham- 
pions, W. Virginia and Wisconsin (Sun 
Prairie), 1 reserve champion, 1 longest 
“You are doing a swell job for the Societies. The Maine 
flowerhead, etc. 
Society appreciates it.’” Carl M. P. Larrabee, Maine. 
