BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN RECORD 



VOL. XIX NOVEMBER, T930 No. 6 



REPORT ON A TRIP TO JAPAN AND TO THE . 

 NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES 



Dr. C. Stuart Gager, Director, 



Sir: I submit herewith a Ijrief report of my trip to Japan and 

 to the Northwestern United States. 



The main purpose of the trip to Japan was a study of the Jap- 

 anese Iris, a term usually applied to the horticultural varieties of 

 I}'!s kacuipfcri. These Iris constitute one of the largest and most 

 important subdivisions of this group of ornamental plants. Their 

 cultivation in Japan goes back a great many years, and a large num- 

 ber of varieties have been developed. About seventy years ago, 

 introductions were made into Europe and America and, since that 

 time, new varieties have been developed in these countries. It is, 

 however, in Japan that these Iris have reached their highest stage 

 of development. Consequently, it is in that country that we may 

 expect to find the essential information regarding their history. 



I arrived in Japan on March third, just at the end of the winter 

 season. At this time the Iris plants are still in a dormant condi- 

 tion, ])Ut in a short time showed the renewed growth. I remained 

 until July twenty-second, and thus was al)Ie to observe the Iris 

 throughout the growing and flowering period. 



The most noted place in all Japan for the Iris is Horikiri, a vil- 

 lage situated a few miles from the main center of Tokyo ; in fact, 

 it is now^ practically a suburb of this city, although it lies across the 

 Sumida River. For nearly one hundred years it has been famous 

 for its Iris gardens. The three best known ones arc Ilorikiri-yen, 

 Kotaka-yen and Musashi-yen, all located within a short distance of 

 each other. The latter garden, however, is now practically aban- 

 doned, and the others are much more restricted than they were in 

 former days. About a mile away, at Yotsugi, there is located the 

 Yoshi no-yen. 



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