New York. In addition to these gardens many local clubs are 
making park plantings in their towns which should be an object 
of great interest in a few years. The charm and fascination of 
the genus Iris manifests itself in many forms adapted to wide 
variations in soils, in climates, and in exposed or protected sites, 
and to guide the choice for our gardens will be one of the 
practical benefits of these public gardens located in different 
parts of the country. 
Two annual meetings and several exhibitions were held last 
year, and the policy of encouraging small shows over a wide 
area, and giving as prizes plants of rare varieties has proved a 
popular one. Three Bulletins have been issued and two, at 
least, will be issued annually by decision of the Directors. A 
page of current notes has been given the members each month 
in The Flower Grower, and a very readable page it is. 
Just in print and shortly to be published by the American 
Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature, is a check list, 
representing a vast amount of labor. This is uninteresting, but 
distinctly valuable in correcting nomenclature, getting synonyms 
etc. Of more popular interest is the symposium of varieties to 
be made this winter and a rating given to each by a selected 
jury. This will help the amateur in selecting the best varieties 
for the garden just as this work of the American Peony Society 
has helped in the selection of Peonies. A bibliography or Iris 
literature is in preparation and lantern slides are being made to 
loan or rent to Garden Clubs and Horticultural Societies. 
Remittances for membership may be made to Frank H. 
Presby, treasurer, 95 Upper Mountain Avenue, Montclair, New 
Jersey. Communications on other topics in connection with the 
Society should be sent to the secretarj T , R. S. Sturtevant, 
Wellesley Farms, Massachusetts. 
It is hoped that all Americans interested in gardens who 
expect to be in Europe in the spring will bear in mind the meet- 
ing of the International Iris Conference in Paris. Membership 
in the American Society will, no doubt, be a credential for ad- 
mittance to these meetings. 
Ella Porter McKinney. 
Several months ago the Chairman of our committee on Special 
Plant Societies said that some of the organizations were active, 
and some seemed to have "one foot in the grave and the other 
all buttered," and this at the time seemed a true diagnosis of 
the American Gladiolus Society. 
American" Now however, with great encouragement we learn of an 
Gladiolus extremely successful Annual Exhibition and meeting held at 
Society St. Thomas, Ontario, last August, this being the twelfth year 
since the Society was formed. The acting secretary reported a 
membership of 279, and made a strong plea for increased 
168 
