BIRCHVILLE GARDENS —_ PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT 
BLACK RED — Always popular with visitors are Attaturk and Negus. Attaturk is the darkest variety we know. Negus 
is our all-around favorite since it has richness of color and all the good growing qualities. We wish the florets were 
larger though. Dark David makes huge spikes and can easily win in its class. 
LIGHT & DEEP ROSE This is certainly the most improved class with such wonderful varieties as Andrena, Edge- 
wood, Elmer’s Rose, Rosita, Traveler and Shirley Irene. Andrena is one of the most beautiful and is a dandy commer- 
cial. The new Traveler opens 10-12 beautiful florets. | believe we will hear a lot from this one. Rosita, with its tall 
spikes and fluted florets, is highly recommended. Shirley Irene should satisfy those who like the Corona type. Elmer’s 
Rose has good color and growing habits and is a must for flower growers. The new Rosy Veil is a 100% producer of 
good spikes. It is somewhat on the order of Spic & Span, but in our opinion a better grower. 
DEEP ROSE — Aristocrat has vigor and great size and is one of the tallest glads grown. Karen must be seen to be 
appreciated. It is distinguished by long flowerheads and wonderful keeping qualities. 
LAVENDER — Francesca, after several years of testing, has proved without doubt to be one of the most beautiful glads. 
It has good growing habits too! If you don’t grow Francesca we strongly recommend you do. Princess, with its tall 
spikes, may soon take over as the best show variety. It makes longer heads and taller spikes than Elizabeth the Queen. 
Tyrone certainly has the making of the best cut-flower we have seen to date in the lavender class. It has a wonder- 
fully clear color and makes good spikes. Sterling, Falcon and Gail are all good and reliable. 
PURPLE — King David and the Rajah—take your pick! Both are outstanding and have a host of friends. They are so 
different from one another we advise you to grow both. Lustige Witwe is a most attractive novelty and is always 
spotted by visitors at the garden as a must. 
VIOLET — Pfitzer’s Sensation has wonderful color and is certainly one of the finest. Salman’s Sensation is a huge 
grower and will just about clean up its class at the shows Venus, a newer introduction, certainly will win at the 
shows, too. It grows tall and opens 8 beautiful soft lavender-blue blooms that are perfectly placed. Crater Lake has 
both size and vigor and may prove to be best as a cut-flower. Violet Charm and Eridge are both worthy of a trial. 
And if you like them flashy, try Blue Devil. 
SMOKY — Tan-Glo goes all the way as a show variety since it makes large spikes and is capable of opening 10 to 12 
perfectly placed florets. Prairie has unusual color and is certainly one of the very best. Mesa Mist is a consistent 
grower and is a favorite with our visitors because of its clear grey color. It is one we recommend that you try. 
In ihe foregoing paragraphs we have endeavored to give you an honest, concise appraisal of some of the 
newer varieties. We hope Mother Nature will smile more generously on us in 1955 and leave hurricanes Carol, Edna 
and Hazel as only memories. Those young ladies surely did not add to the success of our growing season. 
We welcome your visits to Birchville Gardens to inspect the fields. We are especially anxious for you to inspect 
the bulb house, in which we take special pride. Our sincere wish is for you to find success and happiness in your 
1955 gladiolus garden. 
Sincerely yours, 
JAMES A. MILO 
THE COVER 
Little Kathie Johnson daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Chris Johnson, Waterbury, 
Connecticut, holding VALDA mac deep rose-lavender. Kathie is also 
pictured in our center spread pointing to her favorite miniature ATOM. 
