56 



The Garden Magazine, September, 1919 



IRIS DOROTHEA K. WILLIAMSON 

 This is a new American hybrid that repeats a cross (I. fulvala) in Eng- 

 land by W. R. Dykes, but differs in the result. Portion of a stalk growing 

 four feet high 



I give the two score cards for comparison, 



R. S. STURTEVANT 



The Plant: 45% 



Growth (vigorous) 



Mass effect. . 



Balance and branching of stalk . 



Height (appropriate to class) . 

 The Flower: 35% 



Color 



Shape 



Size 



Substance 



Unusual Qualities: 20% .... 



To be distributed for general all 

 round excellence, or unique color, 

 scent, foliage, extra development 

 of any point, or value for exhibition 

 or cut flower 



Total 



AS SUGGESTED 



The Plant: 50% 



/"Constitution .... 



) Growth (strong) . . 



) Habit (reasonably compact) 



(^Freedom of flowering . 



Poise of spike 



Height 



The Flower: 50% 



Color 



Form 



Size 



Substance ...... 



Scent 



Total 



comparing it with those for the garden (counting each cross 

 as 5 points) it will be realized that the estimation of the val- 

 ues of the characters is different in the two cases, and neces- 

 sarily so. The selector for garden value estimates for the 

 present out of the actual available material. The breeder 

 estimates for the future, and the ioo per cent, standard is no 

 limit to him. Seedlings which attain ioo points are only 

 equal to the best variety of that type as yet in existence, — 

 worthy of a place in the garden if distinct, but his aim is to 

 surpass this standard of excellence and ultimately to attain 

 an ideal flower. Hence the ioo per cent, standard is not his 

 goal but his starting point. 



Of course it seldom, if ever, happens that a seedling sur- 

 passes the best existing variety of the type to which it be- 

 longs in all the characters and indeed it generally falls short in 

 one or more, but for each character surpassed one cross is 

 added (or even two if the advance is great). The sum total 

 still expresses its value in comparison with the standard and 



should be at least ioo per cent. It may be a little less, but if 

 much less it is evidence that the seedling is dangerous to use 

 for further breeding. 



SCORE CARD USED IN BREEDING IRISES 



The Plant 



Constitution 



Growth .... 



Habit .... 



Foliage . . . . 



Freedom of flowering 



Poise of spike . 



Height .... 

 The Flower 



Color . . . . 



Form . .... 



Size 



Substance . 



Scent .... 



xxxx 



20 



XXX 



15 



XX 



10 



X 



5 



xxxx 



20 



XXX 



15 



XXX 



15 



XXXX 



20 



XXXXX 



25 





20 



25 



xxxxx 



XX 



10 



The two most important characters, in my opinion, are 

 form and substance of flower — partly because as a matter of 

 experience, they are the most difficult to attain, and partly 

 because they are the most fundamental. Form is the criter- 

 ion of a well-bred flower. It is the expression, in the flower, 

 of symmetry and balance. Substance in the flower is nearly 

 always associated with vigorous growth and good constitu- 

 tion, and in a less degree, with height of stalk and size of 

 flower, and its influence, other things being equal, is to give 

 richer, brighter, and clearer color. However fine a flower 

 may be it is of no use either in the garden or for breeding un- 

 less it keeps healthy and flowers freely and regularly. Breed- 

 ing for a particular color is of course a special problem, but 

 given good form and substance and good constitution in the 

 parents, the breeder may be assured of a high degree of ex- 

 cellence in a large proportion of the seedlings. 



NEW AMERICAN HYBRID IRIS 



B. Y. Morrison 



)MONG the newer Irises that flowered in my garden 

 for the first time this year, none was of greater in- 

 terest than the American hybrid, Iris Dorothea 

 K. Williamson, raised by Mr. E. B. Williamson of 

 Bluffton, Indiana. The cross is the same as that of the hy- 

 brid raised by Mr. W. R. Dykes but the color is rather differ- 

 ent from that in the form disseminated under the name of 

 fulvala, if one may judge from the illustration. Unfortun- 

 ately all of the plants of Iris fulvala which I have had from 

 England have died after the delay in the ocean journey. 



The flowers in the American variety are of the most extra- 

 ordinary color. On first opening the texture is that of velvet 

 so that the glowing royal purple is of exceeding depth. The 

 style arms and bases of the flower parts are duller purples 

 flushed with terra cotta and brownish hues. The accent 

 comes from the thin line of yellow which shows on the falls 

 in the place where the beardless Irises commonly have a yellow 

 blotch. 



The illustration shows only a portion of the tall branching 

 stalk which rises to a height of about four feet in a rich moist 

 border which has plenty of sunlight. The plant seems of 

 the easiest culture and from the clump obtained last year I 

 have this season four fine stalks of bloom. With me it flowers 

 about ten days before the Japanese Irises, coming with the 

 later forms of Iris sibirica and the forms of Iris spuria. 



