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IMPROVED IRIS 



i»^ INCREASE INCOME 



During late years the varieties of tall bearded iris have so much im- 

 proved that now this flower presents possibilities of good profits to the 

 florist who grows outdoor stock. Here an authority indicates the best vari- 

 eties and hozv they should be handled for most profitable results. 



HE kind reception given 

 my article in The Beview 

 on the herbaceous peony 

 has prompted the request 

 for a similar article on the 

 profitable growing of the 

 tall bearded iris. The 

 formerly used term of Ger- 

 man iris was never cor- 

 rect, as it included many 

 forms not botanically called "german- 

 ica." The French name of fleur-de-lis 

 is familiar to all. 



The English, Spanish, Siberian and 

 Japanese iris are, for a variety of rea- 

 sons, eliminated from this discussion, as 

 are all dwarf sorts which have stems 

 too short for cut flower purposes. 



In our study of this one great group 

 of iris there are still possibilities for 

 profit from the manufacture of face 

 powder, perfumery, dyes and flavoring 

 extracts, which we will 

 leave to the chemist, con- 

 fining ourselves to consid- 

 ering the iris from the flo- 

 rists' standpoint. 



Shipping Season. 



There is hardly any- 

 thing grown that can be 

 moved with as little re- 

 gard to season as the iris. 

 In the spring if a short 

 plant is standing behind 

 tall ones, move it forward 

 any time, even when flow- 

 ering, and it will go on 

 the same as ever. 



When moving iris, cut 

 back "the foliage to a 

 lieight of four inches, as 

 well as remove most of 

 the fibrous roots. If the 

 loaves are not thus 

 trimmed when boxed foi 

 shipment, the plants re- 

 'I'liro more space and may 

 '"> injured by heating in 

 transit. 



The regular shipping 

 reason is after August 20, 

 and until the leaf stalks 

 are not over four inches 

 i» height in the spring, 

 'tarring when the ground 

 's frozen. In latter years 

 "uich local transplanting 

 "f iris is done two weeks 

 !»fter they are through 

 dooming in June. 



To demonstrate the 

 tenacity of life of an iris 

 '■.oot, I have cut all the 

 foliage off a rhizome, to- 



By WILLIAM A. PETERSON. 



gether with all the fibrous roots, about 

 July 1 and placed this tulip-like root 

 on a shelf in the house, without any 

 moisture, and planted it outdoors two 

 months later and it bloomed the fol- 

 lowing season. 



Anyone can divide the rhizomes, as 

 the heart roots are called, leaving one 

 tuft of leaves to each section of root. 

 To obtain the greatest number of divi- 

 sions, the plants should be lifted every 

 two years. If one is short of land, they 

 can remain undisturbed for many years, 

 but do not multiply so rapidly. 



Plant in Well Drained Soil. 



Plant in rows two and a half feet 

 apart by ten inches between plants 

 down the row. Never set them more 



No Other Flower Combines so Many Colors as the Iris. 



than one and a half inches deep in the 

 ground. Though considered an aquatic, 

 they do best in a well drained location. 

 When a blooming stalk is cut and de- 

 veloped in the house all the buds, often 

 nine in number, will open in succession 

 even if it takes ten days to do so, pro- 

 vided the water is frequently changed 

 and the stems shortened. The withered 

 blooms must be snapped off before they 

 begin to curl. 



The local trade florists who cultivate 

 anything outdoors can do no better than 

 to grow iris. There are always some 

 varieties at their best on Memorial day. 

 They are dependable perennial bloom- 

 ers, come earlier than most annuals, in- 

 crease rapidly, require but little water, 

 thrive even in partial shade and poor 

 s6il and never need covering in winter. 

 No other flower has so many combina- 

 tions of color, especially of the delicate 

 and unusual shades, and 

 the name of rainbow 

 flower is most fitting. 



They are absolutely 

 hardy, as beautiful in 

 form, texture and color- 

 ing as any orchid, and 

 many are delightfully fra- 

 grant. 



Tabulating Varieties. 



The varieties of recent 

 introduction so far sur- 

 pass the old sorts that 

 a modern list of best va- 

 rieties is largely made of 

 new names. 



In tabulating the desir- 

 able varieties of tall 

 bearded iris, it seemed 

 unwise to try to educate 

 the public up to a botan- 

 ical classification, because 

 it was often found to be 

 totally at variance with 

 the usual grouping by 

 color. 



For instance, we find 

 botanically deep purples, 

 like Kochii and germanica, 

 lined up with neglectas 

 like Archeveque, Monsig- 

 nor and Black Prince, 

 and pallidas like Caprice 

 and Edouard Michel. 



Two things were domi- 

 nant in making the divi- 

 sion by color. First the 

 decided shades, like pur- 

 ple, violet, yellow and 

 white, were separated. 

 Second, so many desirable 

 yellows and smoko or 



