1949 REPORT VALLEEVUE TEST GARDEN 
INTRODUCTION 
The Biological Field Station of Western Reserve University and the Garden 
Center of Greater Cleveland present the first of what is hoped to be a series of 
published reports dealing with gardening problems. This report covers the work 
of the test garden for 1949 and records the results of previous work done on the 
testing of gladiolus in relation to classification and valuation. Gladiolus alone were 
chosen for the introductory test garden report because Mr. Thomas Manley, who is 
in charge of this program, handled the work which had previously been done in 
this field and has accumulated a large collection of material which was used in 
the plantings at Squire Valleevue Farm. Gladiolus represent a group of plants where 
extensive studies could be made during the growing season and present material 
for a complete report within one year. 
It is hoped that the study may expand into other important horticultural 
groups, such as herbs, bulbs, and perhaps annuals which are not now being tested 
and rated in other programs. It is the intention of the committee in charge to 
cooperate fully with other organizations in this field and to make available 
dependable and authoritative findings for the purpose of bringing about high 
standards in the field of American Horticulture. 
Franklin J. Bacon, Ph. D. 
GLADIOLUS TEST GARDEN 
The Gladiolus Test Garden, now in its seventh year under the supervision of 
Thomas R. Manley, was originally located at Morris Park, Fairmont, West Virginia, 
1939-1942 and at Oglebay Park, Wheeling, West Virginia, 1947-1948. As a part of 
a broad testing program developed in Cleveland, it forms the substantial part 
of this report. 
Since the North American Gladiolus Council and New England Gladiolus 
Society maintain facilities for the testing and selection of seedlings, we do not 
solicit seedlings for trial unless stocks are already substantial and their introduction 
is assured, unless found to be undesirable as a result of a testing in the trial 
garden. Our facilities are to test new varieties about to be placed on the market, 
not to rogue seedlings for hybridizers. 
We are aware of the large number of varieties being propagated in Holland, 
Austrialia and New Zealand for eventual introduction in the American market. So 
large is this number that we have found it necessary to issue a quota to each 
hybridizer and limit the number of new varieties tested from outside North 
America to 200 per year. We welcome new varieties from American and Cana- 
dian hybridizers. 
The test garden gives each variety a two-year test; those proving superior 
receive further testing; those receiving low ratings are discarded. Cormels from 
corns grown in the test garden are sent to the United States Department of 
Agriculture, Plant Industry Station, where they are subjected to various disease 
resistance tests. Varieties showing high resistance to disease are further tested 
by the Department of Agriculture in Florida. 
The test garden is located near the well known commercial test plots of Mr. 
Herbert O. Evans where many varieties of foreign origin are being propagated for 
introduction. This report comprises observations in both gardens where our checks 
and his, separately recorded, were made on each variety. <A striking similarity 
between ratings and performance was observed when this data was correlated by 
our test committee. 
From data collected during the past five years of testing the following observa- 
tions were made: that due to the hot, dry spring and summer with temperatures 
frequently reaching 110° all varieties are lacking in total bud count, often as 
many as 8 to 10 buds; stem length was 10 to 15 inches short and considerable 
feathering was observed on varieties heretofore noted for clean color. The muggy, 
humid fall induced not only further feathering but excessive peeling of color in 
many varieties, especially dark colors. 
The test garden is open to the public and special meetings are held during the 
season, two by the Ohio State Gladiolus Society and one by the Garden Center. 
Blooms from the test garden were exhibited in 11 gladiolus shows in six states 
in 1949. 
A test garden performance record of each variety is kept on permanent file 
in the Garden Center. This record includes data on growth, vigor, color and awards 
won by that variety while grown in the test garden. Copies of our test garden 
record will be used by several of our Dutch hybridizers this coming season to 
record the performance of their seedlings prior to sending them to the trial garden. 
