GLADHORIZON NOTES 
Probably most of you glad hybridists have had 
trouble getting those choice varieties to bloom at 
the same time so that you can obtain the cross 
you carefully planned in the winter. It is a tough 
job to do with only a bulb or so, and anything 
that will extend the pollinating periodis desirable. 
I am using a method of pollen storage that may 
help you with this problem that is a modification 
of the method described by N. Pfieffer, 1939, and 
published in Contr. Boyce Thompson Institute for 
Plant Research. I haye stored pollen satisfactor- 
ily for periods of 6-7 weeks, getting good seed 
set during the first 3-4 weeks and poorer set dur- 
ing the following 3-4 week period. It makes many 
crosses possible each year that otherwise could 
not be made. The method I use is to put potas- 
sium carbonate (K7?CO3) in the bottom of a Mason 
jar, and cover the chemical with tissue paper. 
Then collectthe pollen and placein shallow vials 
or gelatin capsules. Wedge vial upright, close 
jar tightly, and store in refrigerator until used. 
That’s all, but a few remarks are in order. Dr. 
Pfeiffer used saturated solutions of K2CO3 rather 
than the dry chemical. In a few tests ] have sub- 
stituted magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) for the 
K2CO3 with satisfactory results for the first 21 
days but not as well later. The pollen seems to 
store equally well whether the pollen is shaken 
out of the dehiscing anther or the anther itself 
stored. You will like to work with it better if the 
pollen is loose when storage is started. Talc or 
lycopodium powder can be used as pollen diluents 
to obtain wider, more uniform spread of the pol- 
len, however I am not entirely convinced of their 
value. If possible put the pollen for a day’s use 
in a separate vial as the pollen takes up moisture 
rapidly while exposed to the air. Of course, keep 
the jar lid on except when removing or returning 
vials. Tomato pollen after drying a few hours at 
room temperature will store in a deep freeze as 
well as when stored in the refrigerator, but I do 
not know about glad pollen. Let me know your 
results using this method. Of course, you can 
bridge a few days lack of flower overlapping by 
holding a spike or flower tip in the refrigerator 
to delay opening. 
If you are not already a member, join one of the 
active national gladiolus societies. That is the 
way to find out about show dates, glad literature 
and who is doing what in this field. The New 
England Gladiolus Society has offices at Horti- 
cultural Hall, Boston 15, Massachusetts, and the 
North American Gladiolus Council’s secretary is 
A. Bazdorf, Lincoln Park, New Jersey. 
Ralph E. Lincoln, 
Plant Breeder and Grower. 
