”Af» Iris Lover’i Catalog” 
17 
Dark Blue Toned Iris 
Section 1C (Cont.) 
Andante is a rich, velvety, raisiny purple, proving a very color¬ 
ful piece of floral beauty. Modoc, one of the very deepest, set with a 
brown cast in the falls—very rich colored. Paros, a large, fine form 
of elongated type, yet sufficiently broad; blue stands and a fine medley 
of brown and purple falls, of Dominion ancestry. 
Prospero is a fine, vigorous, and pleasing flower, late; while Lent 
A. Williamson is much the same, though much earlier blooming, so 
they do not bloom at the same time. Alcazar is fine for the garden 
clump and goes well with the above. All these are very good varieties 
desirable in any garden. Egypt, a well formed flower, is rich purple 
with an infusion of brown throughout. Tarsus, purer in color, is a 
much better flower than the old Canopus. It will probably lead this 
entire class when it becomes better known. 
Group 4—Odd Tones 
There remain a few varieties with odd tones. Thuratus is an Iris 
worthy of consideration. A very large flower, very evenly toned, 
sombre blue purple on a tall stem, and very pleasing. Mt. Royal is 
a bluer Pioneer—a large blue purple bi-color that has a special frag¬ 
rance. 
Wot an, a real color gem, more richly toned than Ministre F. 
David, with wonderful infusions of purple and brown. It is without 
doubt the finest example of dark blendings to be found in Iris. Un¬ 
fortunately this variety has a low stem with not very good branching. 
If it were not for these limitations it would probably be hard to equal. 
Group 5—Massing Types 
For mass planting the new German Alfhehn makes an especially 
good variety; the falls are overlaid with a reddish flush that is espe¬ 
cially striking. Harmony, a valuable all purple, very floriferous, mak¬ 
ing a good mass. 
Group 6—The Early Bloomers 
A group of early bloomers In this color class— Challenger is a new 
one, more to the red side. One of the best of all early flowering Iris. 
Oct avia is a very tall, early bloomer in this color range. Chief has a 
large even toned purple haft, but is a bit harsh because of the white 
veins present. 
New and Trial Varieties 
We have the pleasure of introducing two very fine Iris In this 
color class. They are described individually in the first part of the 
catalog under the heading "Introductions.” We consider them ex¬ 
ceptional additions to our repertoire of fine Iris. St. Louis Is a very 
free blooming deep blue purple, a very vigorous and easy grower with 
good plant habit, tall stem almost four feet high, with good place¬ 
ment of bloom. Now we await with the highest optimism reports as 
to how it performs in other parts of the country. Indigo Bunting is 
the other variety we are presenting, very blue, decidedly bluer than 
the average—distinct form and coloring. We think that this fine 
Gaudichau seedling will likely replace its illustrious ancestor. So far it 
is the first one we have ever seen that seems to have any definite 
ability in this direction. It is a production of the famous Iris breed¬ 
er, Dr. Ayres of Cincinnati, who originated such other famous Iris 
as: Meldoric, Indian Chief, Zuni, Persia, Coralie, Ningall and other 
high quality Iris. M. A. Porter is a dark type that we must yet bloom. 
Royal Beauty of the typical Dominion race is one I want to see again 
before making a definite decision as to its standing. 
