FRAGRANT GLADS 
And now, fragrance! Another reason, if one were needed, for growing 
glads. Much work has been going on in recent years to make the gladiolus 
fragrant as well as colorful. Many of the best of these newer scented 
varieties have been produced by Rev. O. E. Spencer, a Congregational min- 
ister of Peoria Heights, Illinois. Rev. Spencer has used many distinct 
fragrant strains in his hybridizing, including those of Miller, Stevens, 
Ellis, Brauer, and others. His two new fragrants for 1955 are from our own 
scented variety, Cologne. Those listed here are all very worthwhile and 
pretty flowers, even apart from their fragrance, which in some cases is 
rather mild and can be detected only during morning or evening hours. We 
look for even greater development in future years, with new fragrant 
strains and species being added to those now used by hybridizers. 
COLOGNE (Roberts ’48) 342-344 (EM). One of the most fragrant glads to 
date, Cologne would be worthwhile even without fragrance, as it is a bright 
colorful cutflower for the house. Deep pink or light scarlet with a small 
cream throat; 5 or 6 medium sized, lightly frilled florets open at once on a 
tall, willowy spike that may crook occasionally. Opens and keeps unusually 
well when cut, and the mild rose scent is quite persistent even when 
brought inside. Sorry, no bulblets available on any of the fragrant varieties 
this year. 
L .30, M .20, S 2-.25. 
DARK FRAGRANCE (Spencer 755) 454 (EM). A new color in fragrant 
glads, being a very dark red or maroon. Quite even in coloring and nicely 
ruffed, Dark Fragrance will open 6 of its 19 buds at once, with a great 
many of the remaining buds showing color. It is a good grower and an 
excellent propagator. Definitely fragrant, and one of the largest of the 
scented glads. 
L $3.00, M $2.50, S $2.00. 
PINK FRAGRANCE (Spencer 753) 340-440 (M). An improvement on his 
older variety, Thisisit, Pink Fragrance has a clear light pink color, shading 
to a creamy center. The nicely ruffled florets measure close to 4% inches 
in diameter, with 6 or 7 open on a good spike. Always straight, grows and 
increases well. Has a persistent fragrance that most people can notice easily. 
L $2.00, M $1.25, S .75. 
RED SCENT (Spencer 755) 486 (M). A bright scarlet red that combines 
attractive color and fragrance. It opens 6 ruffled flowers of 4°4-inch size on 
good spikes. Like its sister seedling, Dark Fragrance, Red Scent is from the 
cross Burma x Cologne, and it seems to have combined the best qualities of 
both parents. A midseason bloomer, Red Scent should be a good commercial 
cutflower. It has good growing habits, and is a fast multiplier. 
L $3.00, M $2.50, S $2.00. 
SACHET (Spencer 752) 300 (EM). Similar to the older variety Perfume, 
except that Sachet is much more nearly pure white, and is without the 
throat marking. The 3%-inch florets are nicely ruffled and of good sub- 
stance; about 6 are open on a spike of moderate length. Has a light but 
persistent fragrance that is usually noticeable until the spike is entirely 
bloomed out. 
L .50, M .30, S .20. 
SWEETIE (Spencer ’54) 251 (EM). A very deep salmon or light scarlet 
red with a large white area in the center. The color is bright and very 
showy. The lightly frilled florets are of 38-inch or larger diameter, with 5 
or 6 open on spikes of medium height. Spikes from small bulbs are excep- 
tionally dainty and nice for decorations. The first good 200-size fragrant 
glad. 
L $2.00, M $1.25, S .75. 
ol 
