The 2nd UNOFFICIAL IRIS SYMPOSIUM 



Conducted by Kenneth D. Smith, Staten Island, New York 



oCsPAST YEAR we printed a list of 50 "best iris" as compiled from a list assembled through the 

 efforts of Kenneth D. Smith, a prominent member of the American Iris Society and an accredited judge 

 of the organization. His list was arrived at by sending a questionnaire to 50 judges of the Society, most 

 of whom had visited regions outside their own, and requesting them to send in their list of the best 

 50 irises in commerce, which they had seen, preferably in various locations, and regardless of year of 

 introduction or of color classification. Thirty-three judges answered the request, and the composite 

 vote resulted in the first so-called Unofficial Symposium. 



The experiment aroused great interest, and excited much comment both pro and con. It proved so 

 popular that Mr. Smith again took up the venture this season, and we submit the result of his findings. 



73 Accredited Judges of the American Iris Society sent in ballots denoting their preference of the 50 

 best irises. 26 of the judges did not visit outside their own region and 20 made trips into the adjoining 

 region only. Taking the composite list from all 73 judges, the following 99 varieties received ten or 

 more votes and are listed in the order of total votes for inclusion within the selected group of 50 best. 

 In other words, such a list could be regarded as a representative selection of the 100 best irises. 



The inclusion of Ormohr between position 31 and 32 is due to the fact that technically it must be 

 regarded as a hybrid, since it is a seedling of Wm. Mohr. However, it received a total of 35 votes and is 

 therefore placed in its relative position. 



Number 

 of Votes 



1. Wabash 63 



2. Amigo 62 



3. China Maid 58 



4. City of Lincoln 55 



5. Golden Treasure 52 



6. The Red Douglas 52 



7. Sable 51 



8. Naranja 50 



9. Great Lakes 49 



10. Junaluska 48 



1 1 . Fair Elaine 47 



12. E. B. Williamson 46 



13. Angelus 44 



14. Christabel 44 



15. Golden Majesty 44 



16. Prairie Sunset 43 



17. California Gold •. . . 42 



18. Matterhorn 41 



19. Shining Waters 41 



20. Mount Washington 40 



21. Gloriole 40 



22. Copper Lustre 39 



23. Lighthouse 38 



24. Missouri 38 



25. Garden Magic 37 



26. Midwest Gem 37 



27. Sierra Blue 37 



28. Cheerio 36 



29. Frank Adams 36 



30. Rosy Wings 36 



31. Red Gleam 35 



Ormohr 35 



32. Snowking 34 



33. Exclusive 33 



Number 

 of Votes 



34. Morocco Rose 32 



35. Radiant 32 



36. Shahjehan 32 



37. Ruth Pollock 31 



38. Elsa Sass 30 



39. Golden Hind 29 



40. Louvois 29 



41. Snow Flurry 29 



42. Matula 28 



43. Golden Fleece 27 



44. Marquita 27 



45. Ming Yellow 26 



46. Old Parchment 26 



47. Aubanel 24 



48. May Day 24 



49. Tiffany 24 



50. Balmung 23 



51. Yellow Jewel 23 



52. Brunhilde 22 



53. Ozone 21 



54. White Goddess 21 



55. Easter Morn 20 



56. Golden Spike 20 



57. Jasmania 20 



58. Siegfried 20 



59. Stardom 20 



60. Blue Spire 19 



61. Moonglo 19 



62. Royal Coach 19 



63. Sonny Boy 19 



64. Dubrovnik '. . . 18 



65. Happy Days 18 



66. Jean Cayeux 18 



Number 

 of Votes 



67. Mary E. Nicholls 18 



68. Gudrun 17 



69. Mount Cloud 17 



70. Persia 17 



71. Spun Gold 17 



72. Garden Flame 16 



73. West Point 16 



74. Brown Thresher 15 



75. Stella Polaris 15 



76. Valor 15 



77. Florentine 14 



78. Rameses 14 



79. Red Valor 14 



80. Violet Crown. 14 



81. Caroline Burr 13 



82. Chosen 13 



83. Clarabel 13 



84. Depute Nomblot 13 



85. Miss California 13 



86. Madame Louis Aureau 13 



87. Monadnock 13 



88. Aztec Copper 12 



89. Seduction 12 



90. Glen Ellen II 



91. Orloff 11 



92. The Bishop 11 



93. The Guardsman 11 



94. Waverly 11 



95. Copper Crystal 10 



96. Melitza 10 



97. Pale Moonlight 10 



98. Stained Glass 10 



99. Treasure Island 10 



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