August, 1920 
125 
^^c^Tlowar (Brower 
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The American Iris Society. 
T HE FIRST flowering season of 
our Society is well-passed, cer- 
tain of our careful plans did not 
mature, but on the whole, we can 
claim much of success and now that 
the spring rush is over it is time to 
study out an even finer development 
for next year both for our Society and 
for our gardens. If you have not al- 
ready done your transplanting and 
purchasing, now is the time, you will 
find many fellow members, dealers in 
Irises, order from them and I feel sure 
that you will be satisfied. They are 
subject to human error, your plants 
may not be always true to name, but 
you will find them all willing to cor- 
rect mistakes in a cheerful spirit. The 
past winter has been unusually hard 
on Irises in many sections, labor has 
been very difficult and I hope that all 
our members who purchase from fel- 
low members will show a lenient spirit. 
I have many interesting catalogues and 
leaflets on file and hope that in the 
September issue I may tell you of some 
of them. They often have a personal 
touch that instantly creates confidence. 
If a man, or a firm, is making a spe- 
cialty of the Iris, you will find an Iris 
order well attended to. I can hardly 
say as much of the general nursery 
that carries a small collection of super- 
seded varieties. 
A number of interesting points have 
been brought up in the correspondence, 
but again this month we must be sat- 
isfied with reports, important to be 
sure, but of a routine nature. 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
There was little business other than the 
election of officers ( see Ballot in May Flower 
Grower) except for resolutions of thanks 
and the election of Honorary members. 
Both the mailed and viva voce votes were 
overwhelmingly against either Associate 
Members or Affiliated organizations. 
Formal thanks were unanimously voted to 
the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the 
Massachusetts Horticultural Society and a 
number of individuals, not members, for 
their cordial co-operation in various exhibi- 
tions ; to Mrs. Horatio Gates Lloyd, of Have- 
ford, Pa ; Mrs. Charles H. Stout, of Short 
Hills, N. J., and the Northwestern National 
Bank, of Minneapolis, for Silver Cups offered 
for competition, and to Mrs. Samuel H. Taft, 
of Cincinnati, for a Rookwood Vase offered 
as a prize at the Boston Show. 
The following were elected Honorary 
Members for Life : 
Mr. W. R. Dykes, Secretary of the Royal 
Horticultural Society and author of “The 
Genus Iris.” 
Mr. R. Irwin Lynch, Curator of the Cam- 
bridge Botanical Garden, England, and au- 
thor of the “ Book of the Iris.” 
Mr. R. W. Wallace, of R. Wallace & Co., 
Colchester, England. 
Mr. A. J. Bliss, of Morwellham, England, 
the great English breeder. 
M. Millet, of Millet et Fils, Bourg-la-Reine, 
France. 
M. F. Denis, of Balarucles-Bains, France, 
a noted breeder. 
M. S. Mottet, of Vilmorin, Andrieux et 
Cie, Paris, France. 
A number of these gentlemen are already 
members of our Society, have contributed 
largely to our records and we hope that they 
may derive both pleasure and profit from 
the association. 
I shall quote but briefly from the Presi- 
dent’s report: “It would not be right to 
present this report without mentioning the 
extremely cordial reception which this 
youngest of special plant societies has re- 
ceived from many individuals, from Societies 
and from the press. * * Horticultural Socie- 
ties and Garden Clubs have sent official 
representatives to our meetings and have 
supported us financially as well as morally. 
The New York Botanical Garden, the Brook- 
lyn Botanic Garden, Cornell University and 
other institutions are co operating by giving 
land and labor without cost to us for the 
establishment of Test Gardens. The re- 
sponse of the press has been remarkable. 
Through the kindness of Mr. Cooper we are 
now using The Flower Grower as the 
official organ of the Society. The Florists’ 
Exchange has repeatedly urged upon nursery- 
men and florists the importance and value 
of joining and supporting the Society, other 
trade papers have also given us space in a 
most friendly spirit, while The Garden Maga- 
zine, The Bulletin of the Garden Clubs oj 
America, The Gardener’s Chronicle of America 
and the English gardening papers have pub- 
lished kindly notices about us. There have 
also been many notices in the daily pa- 
pers of various cities and the American 
Peony Society has gone so far as to publish 
a special Iris Bulletin, and to dedicate it to 
this Society with wishes of ‘ success, long 
life, and much solid achievement.’ Co- 
operation is necessary to achieve success 
and the generous response which has greeted 
the foundation of this Society proves that 
such co-operation is forthcoming if the ob- 
ject is a worthy and important one. 
The officers and directors of the American 
Iris Society have done their utmost to estab- 
lish it on a firm footing. The answer to our 
efforts shows that we were not mistaken in 
our idea that America was interested in 
Irises. We look to the enthusiasm of our 
members to assist us in continuing the work 
of this Society, the founding of which marks 
an epoch in the history of American horti- 
culture.” 
The Treasurer, Mr. Frank H. Presby, re- 
ported total receipts of $1728.19, an invest- 
ment in Liberty Bonds to the value of $650 
and an unexpended balance of $713.98. 
It was suggested that the Annual Meeting 
for 1921 should take place in Cincinnati or 
some city further west but decision was 
reserved to the Directors. 
As much of the work done by the com- 
mittees is known to you, or not yet completed, 
I shall hold their reports for a future issue. 
NOTES. 
We still lack stock of some varieties 
for our trial grounds and we are par- 
ticularly anxious to get both the newest 
varieties and the very old ones not 
commonly listed. We may not be able 
to select any from the list submitted, 
but at least give us the opportunity. 
The Bulletin on Culture should have 
reached you, I much regret the delay, 
but hope that it will prove of real 
value. Great credit is due to the Com- 
mittee on Culture and the other con- 
tributors, in fact our members have 
proved so helpful that we already ten- 
tatively plan another Bulletin for next 
January. Sir Arthur Hort has sent in 
a delightful article on Sir Michael 
Foster and his Irises, others have 
promised similar historical notes and 
there is every prospect of a fine Bulle- 
tin. I feel sure that you all have en- 
joyed the Iris number of The Peony 
Society Bulletin, and if any of you 
have any interest in Peonies join the 
Peony Society. With their many years 
of growth, they can offer you a check 
list, descriptions, and bulletins of help- 
ful notes. 
For the most of us our seed pods are 
beginning to ripen. As they yellow 
and start to open at the top, pick them, 
dry them and shell them. Personally 
I plant them in October in the open 
ground, late enough so that there is no 
chance of germination until spring, 
but others plant immediately, often in 
pots which are carried over in frames, 
or out-of-doors. Many will germinate 
next spring and it is rarely worthwhile 
to keep the seed-bed another year. 
I am glad to announce that I can 
now supply Dr. Ridgeway’s “Color 
Standards and Nomenclature” to mem- 
bers for $7.50, plus postage. As you 
will remember the regular price is $10. 
It is not a necessary adjunct to filling 
out your descriptions, but I find it of 
great value when I wish to do my 
winter planning. A glance at my 
records, reference to the chart and I 
can soon tell whether blue Columbines 
will go well with Iris Caprice or Isoline 
with Jacquesiana. From memory I 
should say not, but only actual or chart 
comparison will tell. 
EXHIBITIONS. 
This reporting of exhibitions has 
proved most difficult, each deserves 
full space, there must have been at 
least one hundred exhibitors repre- 
sented, most of them members of our 
Society. I should like to mention each 
and all because it is through their work 
that the Iris has been brought before 
many hundreds of people who wow; will 
have some appreciation of what our 
Society stands for. Space, however, is 
at a premium and I hope that none of 
the exhibitors who have not been men- 
tioned will place the blame on other 
shoulders than mine. 
The winners should select the varie- 
ties offered for prizes and notify either 
their local representative, or me, so 
that shipments may be made promptly 
and I trust also that many of you will 
have suggestions to offer as to our 
next year’s schedule. 
ONTARIO. 
Dr. F. E. Bennett has written us that at 
St. Thomas there was a fine display of Irises 
in the windows of Baldwin, Robinson, Ltd., 
the first exhibition of its kind in Canada, as 
The Times Journal puts it. Messrs. Edgar 
Jeffrey and F. S. Wood contributed largely 
but the St. Thomas gardeners were not far 
behind. Such action is but the forerunner 
of greater interest and a real competitive 
show another year. I should like to see 
similar displays in every city where we have 
members another season, it would bring the 
Iris fans together and develop the local in- 
terest by which alone our Society can thrive. 
Mr. Mitchell in Oakland, Mrs. Taft in Cin- 
