| In order to give all new varieties of seeds a | | | | growing more than five inches across. |
| careful, impartial test under diverse conditions | | | | In the past growers lent rather heavily on the |
| after the war, a cooperative organization known | | | | Japanese for petunia creations. Among new |
| as All-America Selections was set up in 1946. | | | | varieties, there was the new rose introduction, |
| Samples of any new variety were sent to | | | | "Peace." It was a creation of the French hybridist, |
| seed-testing stations in many parts of the | | | | Francis Meilland. In 1942 it was rated "the finest |
| country. Each sample of seed had a number, but | | | | rose in France. Conard-Pyle brought it to America, |
| no name, and its originator was not announced. | | | | and it was awarded All-America honors for 1946, |
| After a thorough testing, the new variety was | | | | being acclaimed by rose breeders and fanciers |
| given a rating. If good enough, it received a silver | | | | everywhere. It is a yellow, many-petalled flower, |
| or a bronze medal. Just to receive a rating as an | | | | suffused with pink. At the United Nations |
| All-America selection was a high honor for the | | | | Conference in San Francisco, a specimen flower |
| originator. It meant recognition for the new | | | | of "Peace" was presented to the head of each |
| creation from the start, and assured profits from | | | | delegation by the American Rose Society-an |
| wholesale as well as retail sales. | | | | appropriate gesture, at such a time, for a lovely |
| All-America selections in 1946 included four | | | | flower with a 20. |
| flowers and one vegetable-a petunia trio | | | | Such work was behind the seed catalogue name |
| contributed by W. Atlee Burpee Company, a | | | | that is a symbol of hope for all mankind. W. Ray |
| dianthus from Bodger Seeds, Ltd., and a snap | | | | Hastings, executive secretary of All-America |
| bean from Rogers Bros. Seed Company. The | | | | Selections, predicted a bright future for new |
| silver medal went to petunia "Colossal Shades of | | | | creations since many new varieties had been held |
| Rose"'; the dianthus was named "Westwood | | | | back because of wartime shortages of labor and |
| Beauty"; and the bean was "Longreen." Those | | | | other difficulties. "With peacetime we may expect |
| new petunias were something quite special. | | | | some fine new kinds to be entered in the near |
| "Colossal Shades of Rose" was the first giant, | | | | future from holdbacks and new developments," |
| all-double petunia ever-created in America, and is | | | | he said. |
| the biggest petunia ever known, many blooms | | | | |