86 
THE IRIS. 
The Iris the Poor Man’s Orchid. 
By Bertha Berbert Hammond. 
[ Written expressly for The Flower Grower. ] 
B ECAUSE of its beauty of form, 
delicate texture, exquisite color- 
ing and withal moderate cost, the 
Iris truly deserves its sobriquet, 
"The Poor Man’s Orchid,” and at the 
time of the year, when the borders of 
Iris are in full bloom, resplendent in 
regal beauty, it is undeniably also the 
"Queen of the Garden.” 
Yet, this charming flower is of 
easiest culture and yields an unusually 
large degree of satisfaction and pleas- 
ure in proportion to the amount of 
time and attention which it requires. 
The Iris, particularly the hybrids of 
Germanica (Iris Dalmatica, I. Floren- 
tina, I. foetidissima, etc.) can be suc- 
cessfully grown with comparatively 
little effort. While the Iris responds 
readily and freely to cultivation, it will 
obligingly grow and bloom even when 
partially neglected, and when it is once 
firmly established in suitable environ- 
ment, it will bloom, multiply and last 
for years. 
The one seeming drawback of the 
individual plants of this class is the 
short season of bloom, but by a judi- 
cious selection of species and varieties it 
is possible to secure an uninterrupted 
succession of flowers from early in the 
spring until late in July. 
In order to assure success in the cul- 
tivation of the Iris it is not essential to 
possess any great amount of experi- 
ence or training in floriculture. By 
adhering to simple fundamental princi- 
ples, the amateur may obtain the most 
gratifying and lasting results from his 
planting. Certain varieties have their 
peculiarities which should be respected. 
For instance, Iris pseudo acorus is at 
its best if grown near the edge of water 
or in a bogy, shady place. I. Kemp- 
feri will bloom freely when planted in 
deep, rich soil and fully exposed to 
direct sunlight. While it is possible to 
grow the Japanese Iris in dry soil, it 
reaches its greatest perfection if 
planted in a moist situation. On the 
other hand, I. Pumila and I. Germanica 
will thrive in any good garden soil, pro- 
viding it is not too wet. If plants do 
not thrive and increase in one situation, 
change their positions in the garden 
until a situation suitable for them is 
found. Thus, by observing and ex- 
perimenting, the Iris enthusiast soon 
learns the requirements of his varieties 
and how to supply the proper condi- 
tions. 
As a rule the various species and 
varieties of Iris obtained from florists 
are hardy and will endure safely even 
the severest northern winters. The 
old-fashioned, showy Iris commonly 
called "Blue Flag” (a variety of I. Ger- 
manica) is one of the hardiest of the 
Iris family, while the Spanish Iris, usu- 
ally catalogued as hardy, does not, in 
some localities, live up to the full 
meaning of the term. If planted in a 
Slower (Brower 
sheltered place in sandy, well-drained 
soil and given protection in cold lati- 
tudes it may last for several years, but 
if placed in poorly drained, tenacious 
soil, the bulbs are apt to rot or "winter 
out.” When the conditions favorable 
for this species of Iris cannot be fur- 
nished, the safest course is to lift the 
roots and keep them cool and dry until 
they can be replanted in the spring. 
At the north, Iris Hispanica is much 
better adapted to pot culture and forc- 
ing than for a garden plant. The tall, 
elegant Madam Chereau and other 
named varieties of German Iris will be 
found perfectly satisfactory in hardy 
beds. When planted in groups or in 
masses they are very effective. 
In a sunny situation in good soil Iris 
will thrive and increase so rapidly that 
the clumps will need to be divided 
about every fourth year. If the clumps 
are allowed to remain too long in a 
bed, the rhizomes may be forced above 
the ground and be injured by exposure. 
A crowded condition of the roots also 
results in impairing the vitality of the 
plants and in making them non-bloom- 
ing. After the plants are through 
blooming, is a good time to lift and 
divide the clumps or it may be done in 
the fall when the plants are nearly 
dormant. If the dividing is done after 
blooming, the re-set plants have an 
opportunity to make free growth and 
be in condition to bloom the following 
spring. By Memorial Day, when cut 
flowers are in great demand, there is 
likely to be an abundance of these 
surpassingly lovely flowers. If cut 
while in bud and the stems placed in 
water, the flowers will open in succes- 
sion and last for days. 
Too much cannot be written in favor 
of and to encourage the free cultiva- 
tion of these magnificent flowers which 
almost rival the orchid in beauty and 
wide range of coloring. The profusion 
of lovely bloom, hardihood and ease of 
culture make this class of plants so de- 
servedly popular that no hardy gar- 
den can hope to be complete without 
its full quota of the charming Iris — 
the orchid of the flower loving masses. 
Northwestern Peony 
and Iris Society. 
Mr. W. F. Christman, Secretary of 
the above society, is sending out to 
Peony admirers a Peony Questionaire, 
and assuming that he will be glad to 
send a copy of this to all who have not 
already received it, we are making note 
of same for this reason. This Ques- 
tionaire is a very carefully prepared 
and thorough piece of work and Peony 
growers of experience will be glad to 
help in summarizing information on 
the Peony by sending for this blank 
and filling it out and filing it with Mr., 
Christman. 
Catalogues and Price Lists. 
D. W. C. Ruff, Buena Vista Gardens, Globe Bldg., 
St. Paul, Minn., 20 page catalogue and price list of 
his celebrated Peonies. These include many of the 
best standard varieties and an extra fine collection 
of the new introductions and many of the varieties 
listed are already oversold for 1918. 
August, 1918 
Rose Bloom for the 
Benefit of the Red Cross. 
A thousand dollars in two weeks is 
the splendid record made through the 
street sale of Roses from the garden of 
Carl F. Morisse, one of Tacoma’s 
(Washington) enthusiastic amateur 
Rose growers. We learn through one of 
our correspondents in Tacoma that 
23,688 rosebuds and blooms were taken 
from Mr. Morisse’s garden in 1918 for 
this purpose. 
The blooms and buds were sold daily 
by a group of young girls under the 
auspices of the Red Cross Gift Shop 
on the downtown street corners of 
Tacoma. The receipts from the rose 
sales during one single day aggregated 
more than $200. The roses were sold 
for 5c. each, or at least this price was 
asked, but some generous and patriotic 
buyers paid as much as $1.00 for the 
rare beauties. 
To those of our subscribers who are 
not familiar with the fact, we would 
state that Tacoma and Seattle and in- 
deed perhaps we might say the entire 
Northern Pacific Coast has a climate 
that is especially adapted to the grow- 
ing of Roses. Some beautiful post 
cards from friends of ours in the state 
of Washington indicate the rare feast 
which is in store for those who make 
their home in that section of the United 
States or who happen to be there dur- 
ing the Rose blooming period. 
Flowers in War Time. 
Food will win the war, but food is not the 
goal. It is only ammunition. This war is 
for the souls of people and of peoples. 
And while we raise potatoes and cabbages 
to feed the flesh, the spirit must not be 
forced to wait till the second table. The 
soul should sit at meat along with the 
body. 
Shall we banish flowers from our gardens? 
Can we afford to cut music out of our war 
program ? Cabbages are of the rank and 
file of the fighting forces, but Poppies are 
the regimental band. Flowers are for solace 
in the serious business of hoeing cabbages 
and killing the worms thereon. Potatoes we 
need for food, but Pansies we must have for 
thoughts. 
It would be to Germanize our land if we 
cut gay color out of our war gardens and 
left the gardener only the drab business of 
serving tables. The wondrous structure of 
the cabbage may be worth long meditation ; 
but we do not meditate upon it. The Rose 
compels meditation. Flowers on the mantel 
are incense offered to the soul of the house 
— the home. If Germany had thoroughly 
subdued America a home would not be 
needed. A house and a cabbage patch would 
be sufficient. 
War is sad business, but it needs no pro- 
fessional landscape crepe-hangers. Dots and 
dashes, ” belts and splashes of color are 
needed in our landscape more than ever. 
We owe a whole season of garden cheer to 
the eye of the passerby in our neighborhood. 
Dooryard color is Red Cross bounty. It is 
first aid to the war sick mind and the 
broken spirit. By taking thought the house- 
holder can have a succession of color grow- 
ing about his house from Spring frost to 
Autumn frost, and this without subtracting at 
all from the time he should give to the food 
garden. The heart will find spare moments 
for flower culture. Keep the home gardens 
blooming . — Minneapolis Journal. 
