SUMMER AND FALL 1934 SEED AND BULB CATALOG 
IRIS SIBERICA 
The most elegant of all Irises and among the easiest to grow. The Siberian 
Irises have long, tall stems, grassy foliage, and are very floriferous. They are 
among the best for cutting, or for massing by the waterside. The flowers are 
various shades of blue with white marking; they succeed best in moist sunny 
situations in rich soil. 
Each 3 for 
PERRY’S BLUE. A wonderful shade of sky blue; 4 ft. The best 
of a11 .—-. $ .35 $1.00 
DISTINCTION. A lovely small blue flower, posed on a slender stem 
like a butterfly. 35 .90 
ORIENTALIS “EMPEROR.” Deep violet blue. One of the best_ .35 1.00 
ORIENTALIS “SNOW QUEEN.” Of snowy whiteness, rich yellow 
blotch --- .30 .80 
Prices quoted are for good strong divisions of blooming size and age. 
2*~PLEASE ADD 10c POSTAGE TO EACH SIBERIAN IRIS ON ACCOUNT 
OF THEIR HEAVY WEIGHT 
THE JAPANESE IRIS 
How to Handle the Plants in Order to Get Large and Handsome Flowers 
(From “Horticulture,” Boston, Mass.) 
Reginald Farrer says that there is nothing in the garden like Japanese Iris 
for arrogance, subtlety and sheer insolence of beauty. This is precisely the effect 
conveyed when one sees Japanese Irises in large masses. When a few plants are 
found on the banks of a stream, they have more of piquancy and less of boldness. 
They are the most striking flowers of July, and not so difficult to grow as the 
average gardener supposes. 
It is not true that Japanese Irises must have bogland or even water in which 
to bathe their roots. They love moisture, but will flourish in any good garden 
soil if water is applied in abundance and if the exposure is sunny. The latter 
point is important. It is useless trying to grow Japanese Irises in a shady spot. 
Sunlight and moisture are the two requisites for success with these plants. 
The best time to set out Irises of this type or to divide and transplant those 
already in the garden is in late July or early August. Orders for new plants 
should be put in immediately. Let it be remembered that this type of Iris takes 
an entirely different treatment from the Bearded Iris. Instead of being planted 
almost on the surface of the ground, the crowns should be buried two inches. 
Peat can be added to advantage to soil where Japanese Irises are to go. 
Unlike the bearded Irises, which delight in lime, the Japanese forms prefer a 
soil which is somewhat acid. Lime should never be used with them. It is also 
important that the ground be kept well cultivated, never being allowed to become 
hard or dry. A summer mulch of pulverized peat lessens the amount of hoeing 
necessary and helps to hold the moisture. 
The location should be one where the drainage is good, even though it be 
close by a pond. These Irises like to have their roots reach water in summer, 
but stagnant water must not stand around the clumps, and it is imperative that 
they should not be caked over with ice in winter. 
Japanese Irises must have plenty of room, and must never have competition 
from weeds or grass. If they are used in a general garden away from water, 
a spot should be prepared for them by digging out a foot of earth, and working 
in an abundance of well-rotted cow manure. If the earth is at all heavy, set 
the divided clump on a little mound of sand. When winter comes a light mulch 
will be needed. 
There is only one way in which to get an abundance of large flowers, and 
that is to supply water with a generous hand during the spring before the buds 
open. Water and water alone will make big blooms. In gardens where the situ¬ 
ation is unusually favorable, the Japanese plants are sometimes entirely sub¬ 
merged once or twice in the spring, the water being drained off after a day 
or two. 
33 
