1935 
J. C. NICHOLLS, JR. 
3 
Foreword 
Last Summer and Fall the entire planting of The Royal Iris Gardens was moved to a 
new location at Frazer, Pennsylvania. This was in accordance with preconceived plans which had 
their inception before the beginning of The Royal Iris Gardens. Our location at Camillus, New 
York, was only temporary, and expected to be for three years only, but was extended to include a 
fourth year. This temporary location was to provide time to find the most advantageous site 
possible in the Eastern United States. 
And our present site, Frazer, Pennsylvania, was chosen with the greatest of care. For 
three years we prospected all of New Jersey and half of Pennsylvania. We finally decided on 
Frazer for these reasons: 
The soil is of the very best — a fine, fertile, easily workable loam, in which plants of all 
kinds makerobust growth; twice in the past twenty years, so we are informed, has Chester County 
won the title, “Most productive county on the United States.” 
The climate is ideal — enough winter for every purpose, and yet not so very hard and long 
as the winters in New York State. Temperatures down to 10 degrees below zero, yet the spring 
is a month earlier than at Camillus, and freeze-up a month later in the Fall. This results in very 
hardy plants, but they mature several weeks eariler than at Camillus. Even at Camillus we were 
able to produce as large roots as any we have ever received, including shipments from the Pacific 
Coast; but they did not mature until August; now they will mature in July at Frazer . 
Also, at Frazer we have an annual rainfall of over 50 inches — as against 30 at Camillus. 
During our four years at Camillus we suffered four consecutive years of drought. Another ex¬ 
cellent advantage is that we have sufficient altitude — 400 feet — and are in far enough from the 
coast that we do not have the recurring thaws and freezes that so greatly damage roots near the 
coast. 
It is very easy for Iris enthusiasts to visit our gardens, as we are within a day’s easy drive 
of more than a quarter of the entire population of the United States. We are just outside of Phila¬ 
delphia, only 100 miles from New York City, 140 miles from Washington, and about 300 miles 
from both Boston and Pittsburgh. A very high percentage of the Iris enthusiasts of the Country 
dwell in this area, and almost every home owner is interested in floweis in general. It also makes 
it easy for us to visit other Iris specialists’ gardens, for even Nashville and Chicago are only one 
long day’s drive from Frazer. 
Also, being centrally located means that many shipping facilities are at hand, so that 
orders may quickly be shipped, and arrive fresh and vigorous at their destination. 
It is our custom to visit the gardens of several of the country’s leading Iris hybridizers 
each spring. But this spring we planned only a short trip, deeming it unwise to be absent too 
long, since we had moved our entire planting last season. In March we had attended to everything 
and gotten the garden in good shape, and then, leaving a working force to attend to cultivation 
in our absence, hurried South. 
We first went to Chattanooga, there spending a few days in the gardens of Mr. Clint 
McDade, who has what is probably the most complete collection of the newest and finest Iris in 
the country. After seeing all the newest named and introduced varieties, as well as any Fall 
Blooming seedlings, we went on to Nashville, to attend there the Annual Meeting of the American 
Iris Society, and to see the fine seedlings in the gardens of the various Iris hybridizers there. 
The Annual Meeting of the Society was, I believe, quite the largest and most successful 
the Society has ever held. There were members from twenty-nine different states, and two visitors 
from Canada. A very auspicious omen, in this year of continued depression, that there should be 
such strong interest, members coming from Oregon, Texas, Maine, Georgia, and all points between. 
And in addition to the personal attendance, the flowering season was at its very height 
for the Meeting. Chancellor Kirkland’s garden was glorious, with so many exceedingly beautiful 
seedlings that it was difficult to select the best. 
Mr. Clarence Connell, Mr. T. A. Washington, and Mrs. Stahlman also had many beautiful 
seedlings. And Mr. Williams, in his Iris City Gardens, not only had a lot of fine seedlings of 
his own, but a very fine collection of the latest introductions in Iris. Mr. Williams has the most 
spaciously beautiful Iris garden I have ever seen, a wide expanse under tall, beautiful trees. 
After spending a week in Nashville, writing detailed descriptions of all the fine new seed¬ 
lings, we continued on to Cincinnati, Bluffton, Fort Wayne, Van Wert, and thence hack to Cin¬ 
cinnati, to spend a week in the gardens of Dr. Wylie Ayres, Mr. John Dee Wareham, Mrs. Silas 
B. Waters, and Mrs. Emigholz. 
At Dr. Ayres’, we were amazed at the wealth of fine seedlings he had, although we were 
familiar with Cheerio, Coralie, Indian Chief, and others of his fine introductions. He had so 
many fine ones, that, like Chancellor Kirkland’s seedlings, it was exceedingly difficult to select 
out the best. Dr. Ayres’ Irises were almost all characterized by large size, tall stalks, and a beau¬ 
tiful iridescence over the entire bloom. Detailed descriptions were made of all the outstanding 
things, and then we hurried home to our own blooming season. 
