117 



larg-e number of names which have been used will be of qreat 

 value to growers of Japanese irises. 



2. Description and Illnstrations of Varieties.- — A complete and 

 accurate description of the true distinct varieties is highly desir- 

 able. The preparation of such a descrii^tion can onlv be made 

 from the living plants growing side by side. It may be desirable 

 to establish distinct type varieties rather than to attempt to de- 

 scribe all the different ones which have been developed. The 

 plants which show only minor variations ma}- then be referred 

 to the proper type variety. 



In connection with the description it is highly desirable that 

 accurate colored drawings of the real distinct varieties be pre- 

 pared and made available for the grower of these forms. As 

 the blooming period of the plants is com])aratively short, only a 

 few illustrations can be made in any one year. It is planned, 

 however, to illustrate all type varieties, and it is expected that 

 some time accurate descriptions, together with these illustrations, 

 may be made available to the members of the Iris Society and 

 others. 



3. Classification. — The preparation of a convenient classifica- 

 tion, based on color and other distinctive features, is highly de- 

 sirable. This can only be done when we have a complete knowl- 

 edge of the characteristics and identity of the varieties. It may 

 be feasible to pass upon the merits of the different varieties and 

 rank them in a similar fashion to the present ranking of the 

 bearded irises. Here again, exact knowledge of the varieties is 

 essential. 



4. Seedlini^s. — Many individuals are growing Japanese irises 

 from seed and some of the resulting plants possess qualities of 

 unusual merit. In fact, one can obtain from a collection of seed 

 a very wide range in variation in the individual plants from the 

 standpoint of color, size of flower, and other characteristics. It 

 is highly desirable that all plants raised from seedlings which are 

 really superior should be compared with accepted standard varie- 

 ties. It may or may not be desirable to ultimately name these. 

 In any case, it would be of great value to be able to state that a 

 jjarticular seedling is of ver_\ similar ty])e to that of a known 



