same bloom, always. The natural increase of the rhizomes 

 (bulbs) furnishes new plants, which will produce flowers simi- 

 lar and identical with the bloom of the parent plant. 



Pollenizing the iris blooms is done by hand, on brig^ht sunny 

 days, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Rain, damp days and weather 

 conditions affect the result — rain or excessive moisture on the 

 flower parts nearly always ruininf? the set. As soon as the cross 

 is made, a tag. with date and names of the parents is attached 

 to the flower stalk, just below the bloom. In from 4 to 6 days, 

 if the cross takes, the seed pod begins to swell, the bloom dries 

 and falls and another iris pod is on the way. Many crosses are 

 failures, for many reasons; a 50% get on the crosses made is a 

 good average. 



By July the pods begin to ripen, some large and some very 

 small, some full of seed and some Avith only abortive efforts at 

 seed forming. When ripe the pods turn brown, split open at the 

 top and the amber colored seeds may be seen lying in the three 

 compartments of the seed pod. Upon pressing the dry pods 

 open, the seeds roll out and are kept in separate containers, 

 properly tagged, showing the parentage, and kept in sun and 

 air until properly dried. When cured, the seed has a hard, 

 shriveled, quartz-like appearance, remaining so until germina- 

 tion starts. 



Early planted seeds may germinate in the fall with a result- 

 ant loss from winter freezing; from September loth to Novem- 

 ber 1st is a proper time for planting. 



A seed bed should be prepared in some ])art of the garden 

 which will be undisturbed. Plant in the open garden ; freezing 

 helps germination. For a small bed of from 50 to 200 seeds, 

 make a wood frame 24 by 48 inches. Screen the dirt to remove 

 sticks and stones, add some sand to make the soil friable and 

 porous. Space your rows 3 to 4 inches apart; strike off a light 

 furrow 1/2 to -"^^ irxch in depth, drop in your seed two or three 

 to the inch. Be sure to have some wood marker stakes, num- 

 bered or lettered to indicate the various crosses, as you plant 

 them. Smooth and firm the dirt back over the seeds, lay a little 

 brush over the box, dogs like to bury bones in them ! Do not 

 blanket the box, let the seeds freeze in the ground. In the spring 

 watch the planting and early in Ai^ril the little spears of green 

 will begin to })nsh up through the earth. Keep the bed clean of 

 weeds. Not all the seeds will germinate; 50 to 60% of germina- 

 tion is good. If possible to leave the seed bed undisturbed, some 

 seeds will germinate the second year. 



