162 
Slower (Brower 
October, 1920 
THE IRIS. 
Iris Thrive in Minnesota. 
In an article in the August number 
of The Flower Grower the impres- 
sion is given that Iris do not thrive 
well in this state (Minnesota). In all 
locations in the state except where 
drainage has not been properly at- 
tended to, or on high places where snow 
does not lie during winter, Iris thrive 
wonderfully well. In my garden which 
is just an ordinary location, I grow 
Black Knight, Isolene, Alcazar, Edouard 
Michel, Mary Gray, etc., without ever 
thinking of using a mulch of any kind. 
Once in a while I have an occasional 
plant which shows root rot, but where 
is the location in which this does not 
occur ? This season has been excep- 
tional in that rain fell daily for three 
weeks during the latter part of June 
and the first half of July and no plants 
were lost by rot. Heavy snows and 
spring’s opening in March do not injure 
Iris in the least on soil with proper 
drainage. 
A. C. Arny. 
Iris Siberica. 
(Subject of illustration on front cover page.) 
Iris Siberica or the Siberian Iris is 
one of the most valuable of the Irises 
for the garden. It blossoms in late 
June and early July, giving flowers at 
a time when very few flowers appear 
in the hardy garden. It seems equally 
adapted to both dry and moist places; 
growing strong and healthy in a very 
heavy soil, and doing equally well in 
light sandy loam. The variety Siberica 
which is a very deep blue or rich pur- 
ple, which is illustrated, was photo- 
graphed July 1st, at which time my 
Siberian Irises were very good. The 
best time to plant this species is in the 
Fall, during August, September and 
October, planting roots between two 
and three inches deep. Cultivation is 
the principal requirement, although 
fertilization adds to the size of the 
plant, which in turn gives you larger 
and better quality flowers. Any well 
decayed dressing is good, and can be 
applied anytime throughout their grow- 
ing season. The best time to fertilize, 
is when you are preparing your soil to 
plant them, or early in the Spring, 
when cultivation should be commenced. 
J. K. Alexander. 
A Black Iris. 
Last autumn the Society received from a 
correspondent with the troops in Cilicia, 
Asia Minor, seeds and root-stocks of what 
our friend said was a black Iris he had found 
growing wild among the hills. The seeds 
were sown but failed to germinate; the root- 
stocks, small and brown, looked like pieces 
of dried stick, though they showed the 
nipple-like points characteristic of the section 
known as Cushion Irises. They were planted 
in a small bed in the open garden, and this 
spring sent up numerous narrow, pale green 
leaves, followed in June by two 18-inch 
flower spikes. The flowers were very much 
larger than any of those in the adjoining 
Iris bed, being inches by 4J inches broad. 
They were not quite black but of a deep 
brownish-purple. In the centre of the falls 
— as the outer segments of the perianth are 
called— were velvety black patches corres- 
ponding to the honey guides of other flow- 
ers. The rounded standards had somewhat 
lighter edges, and these as well as the falls 
were densely clothed at the base with long 
brown hairs. It proved to be a form of Iris 
susiana, but with larger flowers and nar- 
rower leaves than the type. The Oncocyclus 
section to which it belongs are all natives 
of the Caucasus and Asia Minor. It is said 
to contain the largest and most beautiful of 
all the Irises, but to be the most difficult to 
grow well. — Quarterly Summary of the Royal 
Botanical Society of London. 
Northwestern Peony 
and Iris Society. 
W. F. CHRISTMAN, Secretary. 
If for any reason you were unable to com- 
plete your planting of Peonies and Iris in 
September, there is still time in October or 
very early November. You are saving con- 
siderable time by planting this fall rather 
than putting it off for another season. With 
the Iris they can be planted during the spring 
to advantage and some prefer to plant them 
at that time, but there is no doubt that 
fall is the best time to plant Peonies. 
Have received numerous reports from nur- 
serymen that they have experienced large 
sales this fall, which means that increased 
plantings of both the Peony and Iris have 
been contemplated. It is our earnest wish 
that many a novice will be gladdened during 
the spring of 1921 when they behold for the 
first time some variety of the Peony or Iris 
with which they have had no previous ac- 
quaintance. With the reasonable prices at 
which splendid varieties of both the Peony 
and Iris can be secured, most anyone can 
beautify their grounds with these flowers. 
After the June season of bloom has been 
enjoyed, the anticipation of new blooms that 
will greet us the coming season, along with 
the ones we have formed an acquaintance 
with, tides us over the months with increas- 
ing pleasure. It is a source of gratification 
to work among our plants and groom them 
for their next season’s performance. The fall 
months, the finest of the year, can find us still 
absorbing enjoyment over our planting activ- 
ities, and during the winter months we can 
study our plantings and varieties, and make 
our plans for the coming year. In this man- 
ner month after month passes very pleas- 
antly for the Peony or Iris fan. Why not get 
in the game with us and enjoy this continu- 
ous feast of pleasure. 
In nearly every catalogue can be found 
very explicit directions for the planting and 
cultivation of the Peony and Iris, so it is an 
easy matter to plant properly and cultivate 
intelligently if the instructions are followed. 
Secure good, healthy plants from reliable 
nurserymen, as this is the first essential step 
toward the road to success. If poor plants or 
varieties are secured we cannot expect satis- 
factory results. It is manifestly obvious, 
therefore, that if we do not possess some in- 
formation relative to the plants we contem- 
plate purchasing, it is incumbent upon us to 
rely upon the recommendation of others. 
Tastes, however, vary so widely, that I feel 
the most satisfactory way is to visit the vari- 
ous nurserymen in your locality or attend 
Peony or Iris exhibits and there choose your 
favorites among the numerous varieties dis- 
played and book your purchases at that time. 
This is the best possible way to determine 
the merits or demerits of any particular vari- 
ety, and by booking your orders early you 
are assured of delivery at proper planting time. 
How many of us have been venturesome 
enough to attempt the raising of new varie- 
ties? A most interesting and instructive ar- 
ticle on the hybridizing of new Peonies is to 
be found in the new catalogue recently issued 
by the Brand Nursery Company, of Faribault 
Minn. A Peony Manual would be a better 
classification for this splendid publication, as 
the manner of cultivation and hybridization 
has been dealt with at length by one of the 
greatest Peony experts of the present day, in 
a simple, plainly understood manner, that 
will make it possible for the layman to be- 
come an enthusiast. There are no secrets 
withheld. A careful selection of seed is im- 
perative. Patience, perseverance and vigi- 
lance, coupled with the ability to carefully 
discriminate and not be too enthusiastic over 
your efforts until your creations have been 
subjected to a rigid test and comparison 
with already existing varieties is essential if 
the best results are to be obtained. 
There is no question in my mind that 
many varieties are named and put on the 
market that have no place in the trade. A 
number of growers have started the elimin- 
ation process and many of them have re- 
duced their list of offerings materially. 
Some varieties that do splendidly in some lo- 
calities do not give as good an account of 
themselves elsewhere, therefore the process 
of elimination is a hard problem to success- 
fully carry out. Let us lend our co-operation 
whenever possible, as the desirability of such 
an affiliation is obvious. 
The plan of holding an Iris show a week or 
two preceding the Peony exhibit will be 
worked out this coming spring. The American 
Iris Society will doubtless gladly co-operate 
with us in staging a first-class Iris show. It 
has been demonstrated without question of a 
doubt that the Peony and Iris cannot be dis- 
played at the same time with any degree of 
success. This matter will be taken up at the 
proper time and a committee appointed to 
act in the matter and their findings presented 
through these columns. 
An effort is being made this fall to get as 
many contributions to the trial garden at the 
University Farm as possible. Both Iris and 
Peonies are desired. This garden will be 
under the direct supervision of Prof. LeRoy 
Cady of the University Farm School and a 
committee of the Northwestern Peony and 
Iris Society. The advantages of such a gar- 
den are many. It would be under the direct 
care and supervision of an expert and the 
plants will have uniform climatic, soil and 
cultural conditions and be in close proximity 
for purposes of comparison. This test gar- 
den will be at the disposal of anyone inter- 
ested in the Peony or Iris who desire to check 
or test varieties they already possess or are 
about to acquire. Ample space has been 
provided for the proper care and handling of 
the plants so that the very best results can 
be obtained from the plantings. A number 
of splendid varieties will soon be fully estab- 
lished and with the addition of others a 
splendid representative garden will soon be a 
reality. Considerable progress was made last 
fall and further progress is being accom- 
plished this fall. Any donations to this test 
garden will be thankfully received. Those 
not wishing to donate outright may have the 
option of having their plants returned after 
a period of three years. A careful record is 
being kept of all donors so there will be no 
confusion in this respect. 
All contributions should be addressed to 
Prof. LeRoy Cady, University Farm School, 
St. Paul, Minn., marking plainly the name of 
the variety on each plant and from whom 
sent. 
One of our readers wants to know 
about the sweet scented African spe- 
cies of Gladioli. Do any of our read- 
ers know where stock of same can be 
obtained ? If a sweet odor could be 
bred into the Gladiolus, its popularity 
would be greatly enhanced, and we all 
know that the Gladiolus has gained in 
popularity enormously during the past 
few years, 
