GLADIOLUS TRIALS, 1953 
OHIO STATE GLADIOLUS SOCIETY 
Follows the report of the 11th year 
of Gladiolus testing under the super- 
vision of Thomas R. Manley, Horticul- 
turist: Four at Morris Park, Fairmount, 
W. Va., two at Oglebay Park, Wheeling, 
W. Va., three at Valleevue, Chagrin 
Falls, Ohio under the sponsorship of 
Western Reserve University and the 
Garden Center of Greater Cleveland, 
providing the necessary land, labor, 
materials and publication, with the 
state Gladiolus society providing 14 
Gladiolus judges (Mr. Manley, Super- 
visor), the last two years directly under 
the sponsorship of the Ohio State Gladi- 
olus Society. 
Upon Mr. Manley’s move to Burling- 
ton, Vt. early in 1952 to assist Elmer 
Gove (Champlain View Gardens), West- 
ern Reserve University found no suit- 
able successor to maintain the trials 
of Amaryllis, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Hemer- 
ocallis, Iris and Tulips, which trials had 
already become world famous and the 
testing program seemed destined to ex- 
pand to Ballarat and Wisley proportions. 
Fortunately, the Gladiolus division 
trials have been continued as stated in 
1952-53 by the Ohio society, with the 
same group of judges, several of whom 
journey to Burlington, Vt. to study Mr. 
Manley’s planting of 6 or more bulbs 
of each item being tested. Likewise, 
Mr. Manley comes to study the dupli- 
cate planting of the items at the H. O. 
Evans farm, Solon, Ohio and the small 
flowered sorts being grown by James 
Sebesy, Ohio society president, at nearby 
Aurora. For four years Mr. Evans has 
supplied the standing type for the Gladi- 
olus trials reports. 
In 1953, weather and precipitation in 
Vermont seemed ample for reasonably 
accurate testing, while in Ohio as in 
many surrounding states long periods 
of drought with record breaking high 
temperatures necessitated frequent ir- 
rigation. The test plot at the Sebesy 
home was irrigated by overhead Skinner 
system. At the Evans farm both over- 
head and sub-irrigation was used, the 
latter made possible by gravity flow 
from the pond into the drain tile system 
which was installed in manner capable 
to drain or irrigate. The earlier planting 
in Vermont produced taller plants with 
larger bud count in some instances and 
the later plantings in Ohio with its 
record breaking temperatures brought to 
view any traces of susceptibility to wilt, 
erook and feathering of color. For once 
there was no soggy weather to test sus- 
ceptibility to color peeling. 
This testing program has had the con- 
tinuous support of a large part of the 
world’s foremost hybridizers and _ the 
English speaking commercial gladiolus 
catalogers throughout the world seek 
and obtain the reports directly through 
society publications or the Evans catalog 
which has a large library, experiment 
station, university and foreign circula- 
tion without expectation of financial 
returns. 
Those interested in submitting vari- 
eties for trial may contact Mr. T. R. 
Manley, Champlain View Gardens, Bur- 
lington, Vt., sending 12 bulbs either to 
him. or, to H-+.0.) Evansy@Solom Ohio, 
whichever location is the more conven- 
ient for the sender. 
R. E. Kemmerling, Editor 
November 17, 1953 
GLADIOLUS RATINGS 
Data presented in order of listing 
Name of variety. 
Name of hybridizer. 
indicate the fact. 
COR tS 
mid-season) 175-85; 
L (late) over 100 days. 
Year of introduction in North America. 
If not introduced, the initials N.I. 
Color and size classification by North American Gladiolus Council standards. 
Season of bloom. VE (very early) under 65 days; E (early) 65-75; EM (early 
M (mid-season) 85-95; 
LM (late mid-season) 95-100; 
6. Flowerhead data: first figure represents number of open florets in field; 
second, buds in color; third, number of green buds; fourth, total buds, maximum 
bloom from the 6 large and 6 medium bulbs grown. 
7. Size of floret in inches. 
8. Color value. Poor under 80; Fair 80-85; Good (having only minor color faults) 
85-90; Excellent over 90; Perfect 100. A study of comparative ratings in the 
same color classification gives one a good conception of the value of these 
color ratings and the high degree of care used in judging color values. 
9. Exhibition rating... AA—Superior; 
A—Excellent; 
B—Good; C—Fair; and 
D—Poor. Based on all qualities entering into production of prize winning . 
blooms and giving proper consideration to the proportion of good exhibition 
bloom obtainable from the quantity grown. 
