1951 REPORT OF VALLEEVUE TEST GARDEN 5 
1951 REPORT W.R.U. VALLEEVUE TEST GARDEN 
The 1951 Report, as published by the Garden Center of Greater Cleveland, is 
composed of six parts, with data relating to Amaryllis, Hardy Chrysanthemums, 
Dahlias, Gladiolus, Hemerocallis and Iris. An extensive Lily plot is expected to 
be in bloom for the national Lily show planned for Cleveland this summer. 
The Gladiolus Trials Report follows in this Guide Book. The complete report 
is sent to all members of the Ohio State Gladiolus Society. We have a limited 
number of copies on hand and while they last will send them to inquirers who are 
commercially growing the flowers tested. 
GLADIOLUS TRIALS 1951 
This summer, as we evaluated the 359 varieties submitted for trial, one fact 
became evident early in the season, and as the season progressed it became alarm- 
ing; “Where are the outstanding new introductions for 1951-52?” It was plain to 
see that the usual crop of eye catchers was missing. Our entries this season 
apparently comprised the finest new varieties offered throughout the world. Few 
of the new introductions were missing but many of these were not outstanding. 
In the upsurge in the quantity of American and Canadian originations offered for 
testing we had hoped to find many outstanding new varieties. The 89 hybridizers 
represented in the Test Garden did have some fine new varieties but, with few 
exceptions, they were not in evidence. 
Our travels to the gladiolus shows, 13 in all, soon bore out our fears for 1951. 
New varieties of merit are few and far between. As usual, those of former years 
still show their merit as they consistently won major awards. Boldface, Patrol, 
Strathnaver, Florence Nightingale, Spic and Span, Evangeline, Red Charm and 
others are still tops. 
Reminiscing for a moment, let’s recall the Test Garden highlights of former 
years and note their status today. In 1946, the first year of testing after the war, 
with many new Dutch and German introductions of World War II vintage available 
for test, Tivoli, pink commercial supreme. Ravel, our best blue, huge Salman’s 
Glory, and deep blue-violet Abu Hassan rated A’s to AA’s and continue to do so. 
In 1947 Strathnaver from Australia, the super exhibition white; Boldface, 
spectacularly marked deep salmon, and chaste white Florence Nightingale vied for 
honors with K & M’s Pactolus, buff with a scarlet throat. Still tops as exhibition 
varieties, Florence Nightingale proved to be an excellent commercial as did Pactolus, 
with Boldface gaining popularity as a choice cut flower. 
Soft, delicate Evangeline, pure orange colored Circe, brilliant scarlet Red Wing 
and creamy white colored Reg. Leahy highlighted the year of 1948 and will con- 
tinue to do so for many seasons to come. 
The year 1949 produced a bumper crop of desirable varieties on trial led by 
tall, formal orange Polynesie, deep rose New York, and black red Menelik from 
Holland. From Canada came the outstanding new miniatures Peter Pan 
and Statuette. 
The year for new yellow varieties 1950, (48 were on trial) was highlighted by 
deep amber Catherine Beath and Sundance. Formal black-red Negus, scarlet 
Bonfire, ruffled miniature Bo Peep, buffy orange Quiberon, and creamy white 
White Goddess rounded out an excellent season. 
Initially, the Test Garden was designed to test. new introductions from Holland 
and the Antipodes. However, demand by American and Canadian hybridizers has 
caused our present testing program to be modified to test principally American 
and Canadian varieties — 83 Canadian, 140 American, 124 European and 12 Aus- 
tralian varieties being on trial. 
The check plot of about 100 standard and previously tested varieties was grown 
under exhibition culture and exhibited in 13 major gladiolus shows, winning over 
300 blue ribbons and special awards including 5 grand championships. Outstanding 
items of this check plot were Boldface, Circe, Cotillion, Evangeline, Florence Nightin- 
gale, Leading Lady, Mid-America, Patrol, Polynesie and Boise Belle. 
GLADIOLUS RATINGS 
Data presented in order of listing 
bt 
Name of variety. 
Name of hybridizer. 
8. Year of introduction in North America. If not introduced, the initials NI. 
indicate the fact. 
4. Color and size classification by North American Gladiolus Council standards. 
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