"LET'S TALK ABOUT IRIS" 



Fifteen years ago I i)urchased my first iris plants, ten months 

 later enjoyed the first thrill of viewing their blooming in my 

 own garden, and a few weeks after that experienced my first 

 great adventure in dividing and transplanting some of the 

 clumps. And of what great significance, you may query, can 

 that be? Simply this: I had been launched upon a hobby that 

 was to change my ideas of recreation, that was to occupy most 

 of my spare time, considerable of my spare change, and eventu- 

 ally establisli me in the iris business and lead me to all parts of 

 the United States and Canada in the quest of the very newest 

 and latest developments in this strangely fascinating flower. 



During these fifteen years I have tried to learn all there is to 

 know about iris — tried, I repeat. No attempt is made to con- 

 vince anyone that I have been successful, but even though a 

 rolling stone may gather little or no moss it at least covers a 

 lot of territory and if it could talk might be able to tell an 

 interesting story. Such is the purpose of this little booklet. 



The average catalog as issued by major iris specialists does a 

 pretty complete job of telling the public about iris varieties 

 and species. Descriptions are quite adequate, and from these 

 specialists the casual gardener or novelty collector can glean 

 sufficient information as to color, height, growing habit and 

 price. But such catalogs are, on the whole, expensive— glossy 

 enamel paper, expensive halftone cuts, still more costly color 

 engravings, and heavy postage on the finished book. To go into 

 lengthy detail on the many phases of iris growing and to dis- 

 cuss informally the myriad attractions of this hobby would be 

 more than any grower's catalog could profitably carry. And so 

 we have devised this supplement, and we hope you will enjoy 

 its contents. 



