Planting 1 69 



In the case of some varieties (as, Sweet Lavender) 

 several flowers on a stem (sometimes as high as four) 

 open up almost simultaneously — a spike of Alcazar 

 sometimes has ten flowers out on it at once — and in 

 the case of others they normally develop one at a 

 time in succession. Choice can therefore be made be- 

 tween great display and long blooming time. 



In Iris catalogues some varieties are sometimes 

 described as "fine for massing". This term does 

 not seem to be used in every instance in the same 

 sense, but in most instances what seems to be meant 

 is that the variety so described is especially good for 

 producing a mass of color. In relation to this matter 

 Mr. Sturtevant, the secretary of the American Iris 

 Society, in "The Flower Grower" of November, 1921 

 says: "The expression 'fine for massing', just what 

 does it imply? As I remember its use, it is often tacked 

 onto varieties that are good for nothing else, but, 

 joking aside, there is a distinction in growth and color 

 that makes some varieties particularly fine in a mass, 

 quite aside from their perfection of detail. Dalmatica, 

 Flavescens, Innocenza, Aurea, are clearly of this class; 

 Quaker Lady and Afterglow, in certain color schemes, 

 equally so, but I cannot imagine Eldorado, or even 

 the fine Alcazar, as being increasingly attractive for 

 this purpose. Oriflamme proves too low and large; 

 essentially we need variety of simple coloring, with 

 short branches well near the top of the stalks, and 

 preferably moderate sized blooms of firm substance, 

 the falls held horizontally. This is my ideal, at least, 

 for mass effect." 



