General sanitation in the iris garden — good drainage, fre- 

 quent replanting to provide the free admission of direct sun- 

 shine and air to the plant, and the careful removal of trash and 

 dead leaves in the autumn, and especially in early spring — is 

 likely to forestall any serious trouble from either the insects or 

 diseases above described. 



— F. F. Rockwell, ''The Home Garden Handbooks". 



Mustard Seed Fungus 



One of the newer diseases of the bearded iris which many 

 people know little about is the Mustard Seed Fungus. 



This fungus is spreading into more gardens because nursery 

 men and growers are careless in selling infected plants. Kindly 

 neighbors are also guilty of passing along this pest, although no 

 doubt many are innocent of the deed. 



This fungus w^hen active resembles a fine white fungus-like 

 web attacking the plant under the soil surface. It is brought to 

 our attention usually when it is in the spore setting stage. At 

 this stage it looks like tiny tan and brown miniature puff balls 

 no bigger than the size of a blackheaded pin. It adheres to the 

 base of the fan and rhizome and scatters on the ground near the 

 plant. ^lustard seeds describes its appearance and it was prob- 

 ably named such because of its resemblance. 



Tt is a good thing to look over each new rhizome. Tf a fine 

 white web adheres to the rhizome it is best to soak the root in a 

 fairly strong solution of Semesan for at least half an hour. 



Garden tools must be kept clean and never used directly from 

 infected areas into clean beds. This neglect is the best way to 

 wipe out of your perennial borders many choice plants. 



—Mrs. H. L. Medbery, ATS Bulletin, May 1937. 



THE AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY 



Of the many thousands of iris enthusiasts who receive this 

 booklet, about one thousand are members of the American Iris 

 Society. A scant few of the others know of the organization and 

 its purposes and advantages, while the overwhelming majority 

 haven't the least idea of what it stands for. The designations 

 H.M., A.M., and even the Dykes Medal are elaborate somethings 

 that are construed to stand for high quality when placed after 

 a catalog description of an iris, but Heaven only knows how 

 they are arrived at ! As a matter of fact, the great progress that 

 has been made in iris breeding, and the immense popularity of 



