THE BULBOUS IRIS 15 



Formerly the bulbs imported from Holland — a few varieties only — were 

 available at absurdly low prices. In later years the United States quarantines 

 have practically excluded the Holland bulbs, and under the impetus of this 

 exclusion the production of iris bulbs has slowly developed in the United States, 

 particularly in the Pacific Northwest. These American bulbs are much more 

 expensive than were the same varieties imported from Holland 25 years ago, 

 but it should be promptly added that the quality is vastly superior. The retail 

 prices of northwestern-grown iris bulbs are at present substantially equal to 

 the prices of tulip bulbs, say 50c to $2 a dozen. Standard varieties usually 

 rate $1 a dozen or a little less. These bulbs may be ordered from most good 

 seedsmen, florists, or nurserymen or direct from the Washington and Oregon 

 growers. Orders should be placed early, preferably not later than August, 

 and bulbs should be planted promptly on delivery. 



The following varieties are suggested for a beginning: 



Dutch: Rembrandt, Imperator, Poggenbeek (much like Imperator), Hart 

 Nibbrig, D. Haring, Golden Glory, Indian Chief (odd and interesting), White 

 Excelsior. 



Spanish: Cajanus, Bronze Queen, Blanche Fleur, Count of Nassau. 



English: Duke of Clarence, Grand Lilas, Grand Vainquer, King of the 

 Blues, Mont Blanc, Prince of Wales, Royal Blue, Tricolor. (Don't fail to in- 

 clude some English varieties in every experimental planting.) 



Tingitana: The First, Wedgewood. 



If the first trials must be on a very small scale, the following varieties may 

 be chosen as representatives: 



Dutch: Hart Nibbrig. 



Spanish: Cajanus, or Bronze Queen. 



English: Prince of Wales, or Royal Blue. 



Tingitana: The First, or Wedgewood. 



Good amateur gardeners, of course, have always the possibility of increasing 

 their stock of bulbs from year to year from their own propagations, but too 

 much reliance should not be placed on this at first. 



Publication of this Document approved by the Commission on Administration and Finance 

 7500-4'36. No. 7550. 



