A CLASSIC WORTH REPEATING 
I ran across this in Elmer Gove’s catalogue, and, since it did not indicate 
that it was copyrighted, I am presenting it here as a warning of what you may 
expect if you become a real glad fan: 
“There is a fascination about growing glads that becomes a hobby, then a 
craze. There are five stages of interest in growing ‘glads.’ First you just grow 
them as an amateur, same as you would any other flower. Then as your inter- 
est in them increases you become a ‘fan’, then a ‘bug’, then a ‘nut’, then final- 
ly a ‘fiend.’ When you reach this final stage you are hopeless. You think of 
‘glads’ all day, dream of them at night, spend every available minute of your 
time in the garden, talk of them, visit the shows, read all the catalogs and 
spend all your money on them. You will look lovingly at the last flower in the 
fall, will handle over your bulbs in the wintertime and will hardly be able 
to wait till you can lovingly plant the bulbs in the spring. From then till the 
first bloom appears is a period of happy anticipation. When finally the spikes 
of bloom begin to appear you are in heaven. 
“In which class are you? I have been in the last class for years. 
“Have just heard of a still further stage of gladiolus interest. A man 
writes me that he is not a ‘fiend’ but a ‘damn fool.’ I think that must be the 
last stage.” 
A Few Comments About My Bulbs and Business 
1. TALL CORN GLADS. Why doI call my glads by that name? Ido so 
because they possess the characteristics of vigor, health, size and productive- 
ness which characterizes Iowa’s TALL CORN, known the world over. They 
grow in the same soil that produces this TALL CORN, which ought to be a 
-guarantee of superb gladiolus bulbs. 
2. STATE INSPECTION. The State Entomologist has recently completed 
ed double inspection of my crop—inspected in the field during the growing 
season, and now again inspected in storage. They examined thousands of the 
bulbs and did not discover a single diseased one. My customers are assured of 
this high class, disease-free stock, which has also been treated with DDT 
thruout the season for Thrips control. Every shipment bears a copy of the 
Official Certificate of Inspection. 
3. BULBS. Unless otherwise ordered, the bulbs which go into my cus- 
tomers’ orders have produced but one season, thereby passing on to the cus- 
tomer the full life and vitality of the bulb. These bulbs are full grown, capable 
of producing show-type, specimen spikes. 
4. I price my bulbs in three sizes, Large (L), Medium (M), and Small (S). 
Large size ranges from 14,” UP. Medium size ranges from %” to 1%”. And 
Small ranges from 4” to %”. 
5. SUBSTITUTIONS. I do not substitute varieties without customer’s 
permission. However, now and then I do make substitutions in sizes. If short 
on Large sizes, I sometimes slip in No. 3. In any instance of size substitutions, 
I more than meet the value of the Large size ordered. Do not be disappointed 
with Medium sizes—they are wonderfully capable of producing amazing spikes. 
6. EXTRAS. I find great pleasure in slipping a few extras in all my re- 
tail orders. I try to put in varieties which I feel sure will please the customer. 
The extras which are not listed in the catalogue will be from newer varieties 
in which the insufficiency of stock does not permit cataloguing. However, you 
may name varieties from which you would like to have your Extras taken, and 
I will do my best to comply with your suggestions. 
7. BULBLETS. Bulblets furnish the most economical method of getting 
started. Plant them about 2 inches deep, in trenches, give them good cultiva- 
tion, and at digging time you will be thrilled with what you have gotten for 
your investment and labors. 



“T have given your name and address to dozens of people and if you have 
some catalogues I would certainly like to have some of them. I would like 
other people to have as pretty ones as I have.” (Illinois) 
