“PRIMA DONNAS” 
In Our Field Trials 
warded Top Score in Gladiolus: Performance 
This season has been about as ideal for growing good spikes, as we could wish. As our 
growing is average field conditions, including show garden, average farm land, and 100% 
tractor work, this report is not puffed or blown up, from professional growing methods, 
secret formulas, and the like. A variety performing well under these average conditions 
must have some merit, and these are the ones we consider for future growing. Those with 
weak tendencies, undesirable growing habits, just fade out of the picture. We are not often 
wrong in our decisions of discarding even the first year although we always give a variety 
a two seasons trial. 
it’s Birch Red For Me 
In my opinion nothing yet approaches BIRCH RED in that medium dark red class al- 
though REGAL RED can’t be overlooked. Both bloom late. HAROLD K. was also good. 
As usual RED WING in the scarlets was simply out of this world and I predict a long and extended future for it. 
BONFIRE is making its nod as a potential new commercial. A fire-red self that is a near 100% perfect cutter. 
NANCY has been good but I wish the flower head would stretch up. RADIANCE was a pleasant surprise, although 
not a new variety. BLACK CHERRY, NILA, GARNET GLOW, and MRS. R. G. BOTH all were good black-reds 
with GARNET GLOW taking the lead and NILA close behind. 
Try Florence Nightingale For White 
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE is the most outstanding since LEADING LADY and SILVER WINGS, but I 
don’t believe it can beat the latter two. LADY ANN with its huge size is proving a good early commercial. ATHENE 
with the appearance of a 300 class white is exceptionally tall and straight. CONNIE G. is so far disappointing in 
the way it burns. CYNTHIA was the first yellow to bloom and is really good. Both SUNDANCE and LODESTAR 
have size and charm in their ruffling. We intend to propagate them as fast as we can. GENE will be a valuable 
early cut flower. 
2 Beautiful Pinks 
Of the new pinks ROWENA and ANDRENA are the most beautiful, with the orchid-pink of ORCHID BELLE in 
a class by itself. CITATION and SKYWAY are tall rugged growers and so near alike it bothers me to distinguish 
one from the other. Had some huge spikes of HEARTS DESIRE, and CONNECTICUT YANKEE was in its usual 
form—one of the best. I am still trying to grow a good spike of EVANGELINE. CLARENCE FORTNAM makes 
some real spikes even from small bulbs. TIVOLI can’t be overlooked nor can the now old varieties MARION 
PEARL, BEAUTY’S BLUSH and TRUE LOVE. 
Orange Gold—A Class In Its Own 
I didn’t have any new orange varieties with any world beater tag hung on them this year. BETTY DUNCAN was 
tall and a nice color. Classified a 400 but it appears like a large 300 to me. ORANGE GOLD is still in a class by it- 
self, with ORANGE PRINCE and TROCADERO the best ever. Its going to be some time before BURMA is 
beaten in the rose-red group although BOULOGNE will be very popular. We are very enthusiastic about the va- 
riety GWEN. Its growing habits are exceptional, even from small bulbs and bulblets it makes fine spikes. ROSE 
CHARM with its long stretchy wiry stems, makes beautiful baskets and a vase of them in our exhibit at the 
Boston Show was much admired. TOPFLITE was the best it’s ever been while VENIDA takes a year off. For a red- 
salmon DIEPPE is my favorite while FRASER with its ruffled bloom looks real] good. 
MONTPELIER is giving us a surprise. For two years now it has put PICARDY to shame, although not quite 
as large. It seems SPIC AND SPAN has come to stay. POLYNESIA is one of the best from Europe. 
The Supreme Elizabeth The Queen 
In my estimation ELIZABETH THE QUEEN still stands supreme in spite of many new lavenders. GAIL is an 
entirely different type of lavender and as usual was very tall and stately. WEDGEWOOD was just as popular as 
ever. PATRICIAN made the best spikes ever. PATROL again was outstanding and I predict a great future for 
it. OCTOBER SUNSHINE is a similar color but a faster propagator and was liked by the florists and everyone 
that saw it. It was an off year for SUNSPOT. It was better in 1949 in dry hot weather. BLUE ICE seemed to like 
the moderately cool damp weather and was the best I have ever had. BLUE BOY was also good but I wish it 
would push up a little longer stem. I have always considered RAVEL the best all around so called blue, but 
this was also its vacation year. PORCELAIN BLUE, the largest of all, was real nice. 
A Good “Smoky’’ 
I think BRONZE KING is about the smoothest of all smokies unless it might be Both’s PASTEL. CHARMO- 
LUCK looked good from small bulbs. DUSTY MILLER as usual was very dependable. While there are always some 
short flower heads, C. W. GANNETT has made some simply huge spikes. TUNIA’S ARTISTOCRAT was also huge 
but you have to cut it as it begins to open. It will not stand wind or rain. 
There were dozens of others that should be mentioned but the ones I have named probably were the high 
points of interest. A few fell down from their usual good record but Glads have off seasons the same as we have 
off days. 
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