Modern gladiolus : retail price list 1914-1915

Historic, Archive Document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

MODERN GLADIOLUS

National

Sflorists (Cmumttum

Held In

Minneapolis, Minn .
August, 1913

PHOTOGRAPH OF EXHIBIT BY

L. L. MAY & CO’S.

SAINT PAUL, MINN.

-

Retail
Price List

SPECIAL TO FLORISTS

Instead of taking big chances on cheap, im-
mature or foreign grown bulbs, which have
been a source of great loss and disappointment
to you in the past, you should buy our Minne-
sota grown bulbs. You require the very best
bulbs for forcing purposes, and only those that
are fully matured, free from disease and grown
in a cold rigorous climate, can give you the de-
sired results. Our Minnesota grown Gladioli
are unequaled for all florists’ use; they stand
without a peer and challenge all competition.
They make larger and finer spikes than all
others, they flower earlier, the blooms are
larger, their coloring in the most exquisite
shades, lovely tints, delicate markings and ar-
tistic splashes are without a rival in the Gladioli
world.

Prices quoted F. O. B. St. Paul. Remittances
from unknown purchasers or satisfactory ref-
erences.

Park And Cemetery
Decorations.

MAY’S CARDINAL

SARA

Park and cemetery planting of Gladioli, in beds from one hundred to one thousand grouped together, with
the different colors and varieties, make a gorgeous show, and lends to the whole landscape view a touch of
artistic beauty that nothing else can. May’s Minnesota grown Gladioli are so universally popular that the
demand has increased each year more and more until the supply is inadequate to meet it. No other flower can
take the place of Gladioli, while the Gladioli does take the place of many others, because it is so profuse in flower
and so varigated in color, tint and markings as to afford the setting of radiant beauty. The Gladioli is in great
demand by country gentlemen who own rural estates with spacious grounds, and extensive lake homes, having
spacious grounds, as each use serveral thousand bulbs in the lay out of their Gladioli beds. May’s Minnesota
Gladioli is the most economical flowering bulb to purchase, as the first supply bought may be taken care of in
the fall, dug, housed and the bulbs are ready for planting again with each recurring spring.

HOW TO BUY GLADIOLI.

If your means are limited buy freely of the
mixtures, as there are no poor sorts in our col-
lection, adding a few of such named sorts as you
think you want to be sure to have. In buying
named sorts that are new better buy not less
than two of a kind for fear of mistakes which
will sometimes occur. It is more satisfactory
to have a quantity so as to be able to cut a good
lot of flowers at a time and so as to be able to
divide your planting. After you have got a
fair stock you may invest more in named sorts.
You need not order dozens of one sort but we
will make up the dozen from different sorts.
Half dozen at dozen price, 50 at hundred rate,
or 250 at thousand rate.

HOW TO GROW THE GLADIOLUS.

Anybody who has a good garden spot or
even a front or backyard can grow the Gladi-
olus, the bulbs are cheap; the cut flowers last a
week or ten days in water, have no oppressive
odor, and do not fall to pieces and are as beauti-
f ul as orchids.

Plant in any fairly rich soil except stiff clay,
a sandy loam, retentive of moisture preferred,
but it should be well drained. Soil recently in
grass is, perhaps the best. Avoid contact with
manure which should never be fresh. If the
same soil be used for several years it is recom-
mended that ashes (wood) and old manure be
plowed in the Fall previous. If the soil be

clayey or stiff put sandy loam in the furrow when planting. Plant in full exposure to the
sun but do not plant among the roots of trees or against the south side of a house.

This is important. Do not plant all at one time but at intervals of about two weeks, begin-
ning as soon as the ground will work well and continue nearly up to July. This together with
the fact that some varieties are naturally earlier than others will give a succession of bloom from
July to time of hard frost. Plant in rows far enough apart to work well, whether by hand or
horse, and about three times the diameter of the bulb apart in the row. We prefer to plant deep,
five inches for the large bulbs and three for the smallest. If the ground be dry and you have
water at hand, water at the start and again when the flower buds show color. Above all keep
the ground always loose and mellow on the surface by cultivating as often as it rains or you
have time, beginning before the plants are up. We use a wheel hoe between.

Note Our Prices .

diameter, many in bloom at the same time, creates the demand for
this variety constantly for use in dining rooms or home decoration.

Price— 1st size, 5c each; 50c per doz. postpaid.

100 for $3.50 by express.

Price— 2nd size 3c each; 35c per doz. postpaid.

100 for $2.50 by express.

BEAUTY

This is a general favorite in the St. Paul market, the flowers when
exhibited are bought at fancy prices. Being of a rich deep wine color,
a shade seldom seen in flowers of any kind, they are distinctive and
show decided individuality, both in form and color.

Price 25c each; $2.50 per doz. postpaid.

NEW AMERICA

A delicate light pink and white streaked flower on a well shaped
strong spike. New. A decided acquisition to the light varieties.

Price 25c each; $2.50 per doz. postpaid.

TACONIC

This variety was shown at Minneapolis by us this season in our
collection and was selected by experts to be one of exceptional merit

and will rival Mrs. Francis King in popularity for florists’ use. Color
bright brilliant pink, splashed and flecked with deeper color on lower

petals.

Price 10c each; $1.00 per doz. postpaid. 100 for $6.00 by express.
MAY’S CARDINAL

Distinct in color to any other variety of Gladiolus, being of a most
intense brilliant cardinal scarlet, very large flowers and massive spike,
showy and by all means the very finest high colored sort.

Price 25c each; $2.50 per doz. postpaid.

Originators Of Modern Gladioli.

For, more than thirty years we have specia
lized in Gladioli, with distinguished success.
Our work in growing seedlings from hand-pol-
lenization, originating hundreds of new species
by crossing the different strains and then mod-
ernizing those varieties, has elicited the lauda-
tion of Florists and growers and dealers all over
the country.

Our purpose in specializing in Gladioli was
to place this universally popular flower easily
within the reach of the masses for it has been
tritely named “The People’s Orchid.” To make
the price so low, that every home, however
humble, throughout the length and breadth of
this land could have and enjoy this delightful
flower, that has been cherished for over a hun-
dred years.

While attaining this purpose it was also our
desire to produce the best strains by crossing
and re-crossing the different species so as to pro-
duce and then modernize those varieties into
the most exquisite shades, lovely tints, delicate
markings and artistic splashes, known to their
varigating coloring, large strong vigorous bulbs
for forcing.

MINNESOTA GLADIOLI LEADS
THE WORLD.

Minnesota grown Gladioli are justly famous
and eminently renowned for their robust habit,
floriferousness, unequaled size of bloom and
freedom from disease. Grown in an extreme
Northern climate, where the winters are long
and severe, our bulbs will start to grow imme-

KLONDYKE

diately on being planted and will flower earlier and produce better and larger blooms than
those grown in any other climate. Minnesota grown Gladiolus bulbs lead the world.

OUR MINNEAPOLIS EXHIBIT.

The many thousands of people who visited the National Convention of the Society of Flor-
ists, at Minneapolis, Minnesota, in August, 1913, were greatly surprised and perfectly delighted
at the display of Gladioli there. And on visiting our display there, their ecstasy knew no
bounds while viewing the magnificence of our blooms. And when they learned that though
planted to flower at a specified time, our bulbs had passed the best exhibit, in point of time,
thereby proving that Minnesota grown bulbs will flower earlier than those grown in any
other spot or place on earth.

Largest Growers In The Northwest

We are the largest Growers of Gladioli in the Northwest. Our
stock comprises all of the leading varieties and many new and
distinct species of rare merit, introduced by us. There is not a variety
of Gladioli known to the world of growers, but what we can supply
on short notice, except, perhaps, in very rare instances. We market
bulbs that are fully matured, vigorous and free from disease and that
have passed the most crucial test for quick and marvelous produc-
tion. We give our personal care to the growing and digging and
special attention to the grading of all bulbs, and we cannot accept any
responsibility for errors that may occur, other than now and then to
replace stock that may prove untrue, by some oversight or mistake.

FROM SOME OF OUR COLLECTIONS.

SEVERAL HUNDRED VARIETIES.

Space here will not permit us to even enumerate,
much less describe the several hundred varieties
that we grow. We can only give a few of those
in the best classes, and among these are “May’s
Cardinal,” to which we wish to call special at-
tention of Florists and the public in general, because of its rare and distinct
merit. It is the autocrat of the whole Gladioli family, because it is the
peer of all rivals in the present generation of Gladioli. It commands a
lordly appearance and is in a specific class by itself. It at once craves
your admiration’while eliciting your focused attention. Among an exhibit
of several hundred other sorts it stands out in such bold relief in the great
strength and vigor of spike, exceeding profusion of bloom, massive flowers, and that
most intense brilliant scarlet, that Florists all over the country have so long tried to at-
tain, makes it the finest high colored sort ever produced, without a single exception. Last
year we were unable to supply the demand by Florists alone for May’s Cardinal,” and
could have sold many thousand more of these bulbs for park, cemetery and home
decorations. In miscellaneous bulbs such as Begonias, Caladium Esculentum, or
Elephant’s Ears; Cannas, Dahlias, we grow in great quantities for the trade. The
very best sorts only are grown and marketed. In these we have many rare varieties,
the most salable sorts,' ’that produce the greatest profusion of flower and the very best
bloom, obtainable. We select the best bulbs for forcing by careful grading, in
supplying Florists, and the success had with our bulbs, by Florists in the past
years, has built up a strong demand for May’s Northern Grown bulbs.

AMERICA

This variety has never been equalled, for size of bloom and beauty
of color, being of a soft lavender pink, long spike and covered with
large spreading flowers, closely set, all facing the one way, making it
an ideal variety for the florist’s use in decorative and design work.

Price 10c each; 75c per dozen postpaid. 100 for $5.00 by express.
MRS. FRANCIS KING

Mrs. Francis King, has for the past 3 or 4 years been the variety
most in demand, for Store Window, Church and Hotel Decoration.
The long strong spikes of Vermillion scarlet flowers with dark green
foliage, the long line of continually opening buds, flowers 4 to 5 in

Some Miscellaneous Bulbs.

AUGUSTA — Pure white, with pink shade on lower half of petals, blue anthers;
bulbs will often produce from two to three strong spikes.

Price 5c each; 50c per doz. postpaid. 100 for $2.50 by express.

WM. MASON A beautiful shade of deep pink, flecked and blotched with
crimson. Very fine spike, New.

Price 15c each; $1.50 per doz. postpaid.

MAY’S PRIZE MIXTURES — This mixture is composed of over 100 varieties, of
the finest named sorts, including selection from the best European and
American growers and it is impossible to get a finer mixture at any price.

Price 5c each; 50c per doz. postpaid. 100 for $3.00 by express.

GOOD MIXED— This mixture contains many of the best sorts and covers a wide
range of colors.

Price 3c each; 30c per doz. postpaid. 100 for $2.00 by express.

RED AND SCARLET SHADES — Extra fine mixture, of various shades of red
and scarlet. Very fine for mass effects.

Price 4c each; 35c per doz. postpaid. 100 for $2.00 by

express

LIGHT AND WHITE SHADES — A mixture of the leading varieties, used by
the florists, for cut flower purposes.

Price 6c each; 50c per doz. posptaid. 100 for $3.00 by express.

PINK SHADES — Fine pink and rose shades.

; Price 5c each; 40c per doz. postpaid. 100 for $2.50 by express.

BLUE SHADES — Contains the newest shades of blue and purple.

Price 10c each; $1.00 per doz. postpaid. 100 for $6.50 by express.

We can offer a quantity of planting size bulbs and bublets of
Mrs. Francis King and America. Price on application.

TACONIC

MISCELLANEOUS BULBS

BEGONIAS — Single mixed. Tuberous rooted.

Price 5c each; 50c per doz. postpaid.

Double mixed. Tuberous rooted.

Price 10c each; $100 per doz. postpaid.

CALADIUM ESCULENTUM or ELEPHANTS EARS—

Price 15c each; large size 25c each.

Mammoth 35c per doz. postpaid.

CAN NAS — Extra fine varieties. Mixed, two to three eyes.

Price 10c each; $1.00 per doz. postpaid. 100 for $6.50 by express.

DAHLIA— Clumps three to four tubers each.

Price 10c each; $1.00 per doz. postpaid. 100 for $8.00 by express.

TUBEROSES — Excelsior pearl.

Price 5c each; 50c per doz. postpaid.

GLOXINIAS— Best mixed.

Price 10c each; $1.00 per doz. postpaid.