16 
for their perfect development a very 
porous, well-drained compost, consist- 
ing of equal parts of leaf mold, sharp 
sand, well decayed fertilizer and some 
substance like pulverized moss or spent 
hops to give porosity to the potting 
soil. Perfect drainage is very essen- 
tial. As demanded by their growth, 
the plants should be carefully shifted 
into larger pots. Once in a while an 
application of weak liquid fertilizer or 
of water to which has been added am- 
monia in the proportion of about a 
half teaspoonful to the gallon, may be 
used to advantage. 
With patient, intelligent culture it is 
quite possible to produce showy, vigor- 
ous specimen plants as fine as those so 
alluringly pictured in catalogues, pro- 
viding that varieties suitable for win- 
dow culture are selected. For this 
purpose, the varieties of Boston Fern 
(Nephrolepis exaltata Bostoniensis) 
are general favorities. The original 
Boston Fern is robust and will thrive 
in partial shade. Its numerous long, 
graceful fronds of drooping habit make 
it desirable either for use in a hanging 
basket or ordinary pot. 
A striking contrast to the above 
with its fronds from two to four feet 
in length, is the very dwarf Muscosa 
whose compact foliage is of such a 
beautiful emerald green color. 
Pierson’s Boston Fern exhibits un- 
usual beauty and is quite easily grown, 
but like many of the “ plumed ” or 
feathered varieties, it sometimes shows 
an inclination to revert to the original 
form when grown under conditions 
that are favorable to reversion. To 
counteract this tendency in a measure, 
pot the fern in well-drained porous 
soil that has not been enriched and re- 
move any “ plain ” ferns that may pre- 
sent themselves. 
The propagation of Ferns may be 
effected by the division of plants, by 
means of the seed spores or by plant- 
ing the runners that form somewhat 
after the manner of strawberry run- 
ners. 
Willow Gentian (G. asclepiadea.) 
I often wonder at the scarcity of this 
Gentian in gardens, for it is a distinct and 
most valuable plant, sending forth freely its 
beautiful and numerous purple-blue flowers 
from the axils of its Willow-like leaves. For 
a long time past a group of it has been quite 
a feature, and although very much neglected 
during the war, the plants are again as 
beautiful as ever and flowering with the 
greatest profusion. Both the blue and white 
forms are growing together, and very pretty 
they look on sunny days when their blooms 
are fully expanded. Even in several so- 
called blue gardens I could not discover this 
charming plant. Moist, shaded positions are 
often recommended for it, and although it 
comes from the Mountain Pine woods of 
Europe, it is happiest with me in a sunny 
border where the soil is fairly light and 
warm. I saw some plants of it the other 
day growing in the foreground of overhang- 
ing shrubs, in which case they were drawn 
and taller than mine, but their flowering 
was very poor. With me it reaches a height 
of two feet six inches. The plants die down 
in winter, and if increase is required they 
may then be divided up and good results ob- 
tained the following year — Gardening Illus- 
trated (English). 
d)<£~2Flowe.r (Brower February, 1920 
Comments on the Iris Society Project. 
AN IRIS SOCIETY is an accorn- 
/ \ plished fact, and yet, as I write, 
l \ the date of the meeting for or- 
ganization, (Jan. 29th) is still in 
the future. I can give no details of 
the momentous occasion and yet, if I 
cull successfully from our correspond- 
ence, you may find something of in- 
terest in the preliminaries. 
Mr. A. J. Bliss, the foremost breeder 
of the Iris in England, writes under 
date of October 2nd : 
“ Mr. Wister wrote to me that he was 
pretty sure they would succeed in forming 
an Iris Society. I hope so, but I quite agree 
with you that * * * it should certainly 
be international, and an annual journal and 
records and illustrations are quite possible- 
in fact can be done very well. I should 
hope also that it would take up the work of 
registration of varieties with the power to 
judge, and so (as far as its authority goes — 
and it should be unquestioned if rightly and 
fairly managed) be able to weed out obsolete 
and inferior ones. * * * Also I should 
like to see the classification tackled by a 
really wide and representative body such as 
the Iris Society would command.” 
This is a comprehensive program 
but the developments are much along 
these lines. Later he writes : 
“I shall be very pleased to do all I can 
to help. Do not hesitate to tell me any- 
thing definitely that I can do. I shall be 
glad to ‘do my bit.’ ” 
We have taken him at his word and 
I think that when our correspondence 
on standards of excellence, form of 
description, and definition of descrip- 
tive terms is considered and acted upon 
by the proper committee, his work will 
receive its due credit. The article on 
classification in the December 20th 
issue of The Garden (English) and 
notes on registeration in The Gar- 
deners’ Chronicle will be of great as- 
sistance as well. 
Mrs. Dean, of California, wrote in 
late September : 
“ Do the French and English have Iris So- 
cieties? (They have not) If so, we could 
form one, and all three combine into an in- 
ternational. Conditions are so different on 
this coast that we would be up against it 
with trial grounds in the east. It would 
practically be of little benefit to us, and I 
too am not so sure about trial grounds. * * * 
Mr. Mitchell of Berkeley has been anxious 
to have a society formed in this state, and 
also suggested a trial at Berkeley at the 
University. I have not encouraged it much, 
but now there is prospect of an organization 
to cover the whole field, perhaps it can be 
worked out satisfactorily.” 
Mr. A. C. Hall, of Pennsylvania, con- 
fesses to an interest in the check list, 
the standard description, and standards 
of excellence ; Mrs. Samuel H. Taft, of 
Cincinnati, writes : “ I will try to be a 
creditable member and know many 
who will join ; ” Mr. Mohr writes from 
California, “ An Iris section in each 
Botanical Garden would be a great 
help— and create interest;” these are 
but a few of the many suggestions that 
have come in to us who are working 
for the society. Dr. Gleason, the Sec. 
pro tern., can undoubtedly add many 
more for I learn that well over four 
hundred announcements have been 
sent out. 
Now for a word as to matters, which 
from present indications, will be 
brought up at the meeting in respect 
to the above comments. Mr. Bliss 
speaks of matters of policy and I think 
with the exception of the casual use of 
the word “international” the plans 
include all the points he mentions. 
The N. Y. Botanical Garden is to re- 
ceive our assistance in the establish- 
ment of a complete Trial Ground ; I 
expect that Prof. Beal, of Cornell, 
where work has already been started 
on the lines of the Peony and Gladiolus 
trials, may request co-operation also ; 
and who knows but Mr. Mitchel, Mr. 
Christman, and Dr. Moore, of the Mis- 
souri Bontanical Garden, all of whom 
have considered at least a show plant- 
ing of Iris will be represented at the 
meeting. The acceptance of all these 
offers (if they materialize) might be 
confusing in the matter of published re- 
ports but would satisfy, for many, the 
fear that Mrs. Dean puts into words, 
and, if plant contributions were re- 
quested from each district concerned, 
and action put in the hands of a local 
committee, full acceptance might be 
practical. A clause in the constitution 
as it is at present drafted deals with 
this point of local control ; roughly it 
states that the Regional Vice-President 
shall be elected by the local members, 
shall (subject to the approval of the 
Society) have full control of all Trial 
grounds, exhibitions, and local meet- 
ings within his district and shall be an 
ex-officio member of the Board of Di- 
rectors. The question of voting by 
mail upon important questions is also 
receiving serious consideration. In 
other words the promoters are doing 
their best to make the society of value 
to any member wherever his place of 
residence. The dues as at present pro- 
posed will be $3.00 per year. 
Mr. Cooper has most generously 
offered the use of The Flower Grower 
as an official organ, and however few 
Iris you may grow, I hope that you 
will think it of advantage to join the 
Iris society. 
It is an anti-climax, but please re- 
member that though I have written in 
good faith I am merely a prospective 
member of a proposed society, actual 
results lie in the future. 
Robert S. Sturtevant. 
Any subscriber who can furnish us 
with a copy of the May, 1914, issue in 
good condition, of TheModern Gladi- 
olus Grower will have his subscrip- 
tion advanced three months in pay- 
ment for same. 
Any subscriber furnishing us a copy 
of December, 1917, The Modern Gladi- 
olus Grower, in good condition, will 
have his subscription advanced two 
months in payment for same. 
The reserve copies of The Modern 
Gladiolus Grower are being greatly 
reduced and those who are interested 
in securing a complete file should not 
delay. The 1918 issues of The Flower 
Grower are also in short supply. Bound 
volumes will be at a premium soon. 
