wx *& & (470) (Palmer, 1944) (85 
Lancaster e e e days) (Minuet x King 
Lear) Our rating of a variety fluctuates slightly from 
year to year in accordance with the performance of 
that variety. Thus Lancaster loses a star this year. 
But it is nonetheless one of the outstanding purples. 
We love it for its true pansy-purple color, round 
florets, and splendid ruffling. A tall grower which 
opens 6-8 florets at a time. For a basso profundo note 
in the symphony of glad colors, depend on Lancaster! 
(L 2-.25; 10-1.00) (M 10-.60) 
(S 10-.35) (Blbts. Pkg. .30) 
x * (506) (Lines, 1949) (85 days) 
La Valle e e (Shirley Temple x Sir Gala- 
had) This massive ivory glad with a spark of fire deep 
in the throat has been deluged with superlatives in 
certain quarters, but our own enthusiasm remains 
quite muted. While it has vigor galore and opens 
about eight huge florets, there is a crowdedness and 
lack of elegance about it that makes us realize that it 
must do better elsewhere. Before plunging on this 
one, better try it out in your environment. Some glads 
do well everywhere; others are more choosy as to soil 
and climate. 
(L 1-1.25) (M 1-1.00) 
(S 1-.75) (Blbts. 15-1.00) 
Lavender and Gold «= 
(366) (Baerman, 1943) (65 days) (Queen of Bremen X 
(Sweetheart x Rosemarie Pfitzer)) Next to Starlet, 
the most graceful glad in our list. Descriptively-nam- 
ed, Lavender and Gold has those too-rarely-seen wiry 
stems that characterize ideal arrangement glads. An 
elegant winsome little flower, whose pale lavender and 
glowing gold make it companionable with creamy- 
yellow roses. 
CL 2-.25; 10-1.00) (M 10-.60) 
(S 10-.35) (Blbts. Pkg. .30) 
Lavender Beauty **— 
(466) (Kolb, 1950) (80 days) (Elizabeth ine Queen x 
Myrna) From Canada, where Elizabeth the Queen 
originated, comes this lighter-toned sequel to charm us 
anew. Lavender Beauty is virtually a self, having a 
better throat than Elizabeth the Queen but sharing its 
wonderful substance and handsome ruffling. Seeming- 
ly a good spike maker. 
(L 1-1.00; 10-8.00) CM 1-.60; 10-4.80) 
(S 1-.40; 10-3.20) (Blbts. 4-.25; 100-5.00) 
x *k *& &k (466) (Fisch- 
Lavender Lace *—~ er, 1950) (80 
days) (Poet’s Dream x Elizabeth the Queen) Pictured 
on page 5, but more accurately on page 10 is this ex- 
quisite but massive lavender with glowing creamy 
throat. Subject to considerable flecking in cool, rainy 
weather, at its best Lavender Lace is one of the two or 
three most lavishly beautiful lavenders now in com- 
merce. With maximum purity of throat and maximum 
waxiness of texture (inherited from Poet’s Dream), 
plus a stylish dash of ruffling, it has a beauty at once 
lush and ethereal. Lavender Lace was a conspicuous 
winner of blue ribbons at shows last summer. 
(L 1-.50; 10-4.00) (M 1-.35; 10-2.80) 
(S 1-.25; 10-2.00) (Blbts. 8-.25; 100-2.50) 
“The bulbs I received from you last spring were the 
finest and cleanest I have received for some time . 
I showed Lavender Lace and Autumn Moon and won 
first with both. They were grand.” 
—Geo. Moore, Massachusetts 
“Your Lavender Lace is a beautiful thing. Noweta 
Rose is tops.” 
—Francis Graff, Gladmeadow, Illinois 
wk ok 
Leading Lady ts) (5 devs 
(Sport of Picardy) Sporting is viewed as a sign of 
vitality, and Picardy—long the most widely grown of 
glads—has produced the most sports. Leading Lady, 
a light cream that will pass as white with the florists, 
is one of the best. Though one of the greatest show 
winners of all time and occasionally exhibited with up 
to eleven open florets, it seems to be slipping in respect 
to vigor, as has Picardy itself, but it is still prominent 
at shows and is still often named grand-champion. 
(L 2-.25; 10-1.00) (M 10-.60) 
(S 10-.35) (Blbts. Pkg. .25) 
* + x * *& (500) (Barrett, 
Leading Light se (3) Goce 
(From two seedlings, both derived from White Zombie 
x Eve) Nice again this year was this large, lacy, deep 
cream shown in color on page 20. Translucent tex- 
ture and a rather unusual curly type of ruffling like 
that of a petunia give this glad individuality. 
(L 1-.75; 10-6.00) (M 1-.50; 10-4.00) 
(S 1-.35; 10-2.50) (Blbts. 10-.60; 100-5.00) 
ewe (450) 8G oT bean 
Leah Gorham 7% (33) (3033 
(American Commander x pers This shapely rich 
scarlet with snowy throat reminds one of a vivid red 
bird with a snowy breast. Indeed a striking gladiolus! 
Not as large as Carnival but with more attractively re- 
curved florets. Leah Gorham appears to be a highly 
consistent grower, producing tidy, stretchy spikes with 
assembly-line uniformity, as do Beauty’s Blush or Rose 
Charm. Six to eight florets are open at a time. 
(L 1-.75; 10-6.00) (M 1-.50; 10-4.00) 
(S 1-.35; 10-2.50) (Blbts. 5-.25; 100-5.00) 
4 x * * (462) (Fairchild, 
Lila Wallace te (0:7) odes) 
(Early Rose x King Lear) Sumptuous light rose-red 
of tremendous substance and elegant ruffling. The 
American-beauty coloring, roundness and wide-open- 
ness of floret, the abundant inflorescence, and satin 
sheen contribute to an ensemble that is really stunning. 
But this glad is indeed loth to produce those spire-like 
spikes, unless given plenty of pampering. (At least it 
let us down last summer.) Lila Wallace was named 
for the wife of the publisher of the Reader’s Digest by 
the Wallaces’ pastor, Rev. Fairchild, who is also a lead- 
ing glad fan, author, and hybridizer. 
(L 1-.75; 10-6.00) (CM 1-.50; 10-4.00) 
(S 1-.25; 10-2.00) (Blbts. 5-.25; 100-3.50) 
e e x _* * (410) (Balentine, 1941) (90 
Lipstick ene days) (Picardy x Schwa- 
bengirl) Light pink accented by a sharp blotch of red. 
A rather easy grower, producing a formal two-row 
spike. A distinctive worth-while variety that likes to 
grow. A good cutter that grows on one. Crooks under 
some conditions. 
(L 2-.25; 10-1.00) (M 10-.60) 
(S 10-.30) (Blbts. Pkg. .30) 
“Heart O’Gold is now in bloom. I have been raising 
glads for several years and have yet to find anything 
to compare with it.” 
—Walter DeVare, Illinois 
=o 
