g 
Indeed these tried and true beauties are usually morc 
dependable than many of the new expensive varietics, 
which often have been put on the market only because 
they were "Somebody's Baby" or because the introducor 
was unaquainted with the fine varieties already avail- 
able. As proof of the this, check the winnings of 
Crinkles, originated by Kunderd and introduced in 1916, 
Minuet by Joe Coleman in 1922 and still the leader in 
its class, Mother Machree 1927 won plenty of prizes last 
year, Picardy 1931 winner of more prizes and champion- 
Ships than any other. There is a long list that would be 
longer if we were not so prone to discard the old in 
favor of the new. This does not mezsn that there are no 
good new glads, but merely that all new ones are not 
necessarily the best. Where competent judges are peed. 
the ability to win is a very good criterion, | 
THE CLASSIFICATION NUMBER designating the size and 
color group into which the variety has been placed by 
the National Classification Committee follows the date 
of introduction. It is used and recognized by most 
Gladiolus Societies in the U. S. and Canada. On the 
show table, varieties compete in these size and color 
classes. Turn to Bulb Buyers Guide, page 27 for 
complete explanation. 
BULB SIZES: Most gladiolus growers supplying the 
retail trade use three bulb sizes. LARGE BULBS (indi- 
cated byl aagimnis? catalog): are! sorted sotthat/thesmini- 
mun is lt inches in diameter; however most are much 
larger. It usually takes two years to grow a bulb to this 
size from a bulblet, altho a percentage of certain varies 
ties, with good culture, will attain this-size the first 
year. Bulbs three years old or over are no longer con- , / 
Sidered young bulbs. MEDIUM (M) sized bulbs measure 3 /\K 
to 1l¢ inches in diameter and usually produce about as” | 
good flowers as the larger size but generally take 
longer to bloom. SMALL bulbs (S) or planting stock 
those measuring less than 3/4 of an inch in dianctgof. 
While this size often produces a fairly large perg@ntage 
of bloom in certain varieties, they are 


