CARL SALBACH 
I 
"LOOKING BACKWARDS" 
As our garden came into bloom this season, we could not resist a temptation 
to “look back,’’ judging as we did, which iris have stood the test of time. In doing 
so, we cannot help but marvel at the number of iris of our own introduction which 
have “improved with age.” 
Rating these iris, not by percentage of perfection, but by “introductory 
values, ’ ’ we conclude that: 
1. Happy Days and California Gold could have been introduced to the iris world 
at $35.00 to $40.00 per rhizome and still have been worth the money asked. 
Happy Days has given us the same huge, beautiful blooms as last season, and a 
single rhizome planted last year has produced us two excellent spikes. Cali¬ 
fornia Gold has shown the same intense coloring, and has bloomed bigger and 
taller than as we originally remembered it. A one-year plant gave us a 33 in. 
height, and the flowers are larger than those of its parent, Grace Sturtevant. 
2. Our bright Neon could have commanded a $25.00 price on introduction, as 
visitors constantly tab it as the showiest iris in the garden, and one of the most 
attractive ever created. 
3. Brunhilde and Dark Knight, both of which are the finest yet in their color 
classes, would have deserved at least a $20.00 introductory price. We can also 
say the same for our own Eleanor Blue, one of the warmest, easiest-wearing of 
all blues, so attractive because of its clear Hoogiana coloring and its russet brown 
haft markings. Professor Essig’s fine tall blue, Shining Waters, we also rank 
as so striking that it, too, could have originally sold for $20.00. Natividad, 
pure, yet bright, was also “worth” the same starting price. 
4. China Rose and Pink Jewel, two delightful little flowers, both bordering on 
pink might have commanded $7.50 to $10.00, but were started at less than half 
the first figures, being small iris. No iris we have yet seen is pinker in mass 
than the latter. 
5. Other particularly fine iris, although introduced at prices nearer their worth, 
but now among the most outstanding iris, and well worth their present price 
are: Marquita, Alta California, Black Wings, Rubeo, Eastern Morn, Sunol, 
Prof. Mitchell, Spokan, Burning Bronze, Seduction, Mary Geddes, Sierra 
Blue, and King Midas. 
Comments typically descriptive of some of these finest ins follow: 
Happy Days —El Capitan in yellow. 
California Gold— “The most outstanding iris 
in the garden.” 
Alta California —Purissima form in a bronzy 
yellow. Hardy everywhere. 
Sunol—“A marvelous yellow blend.” 
Natividad —“Combines purity, gracefulness, 
and brightness in a manner that I have 
never seen in any other iris.” 
Eleanor Blue —As softly refined as a gown of 
silver blue. 
Shining Waters —Close your eyes and let the 
name describe it. 
Sierra Blue —As clear as a cloudless mountain 
sky. 
Black Wings —“La tulipe noire.” 
China Rose —As delicately beautiful as the 
name indicates. 
Brunhilde —“Markedly better than any other 
iris of the same class that I have ever seen.” 
Mary Geddes —“As always, the center of at¬ 
traction in the garden.” 
Neon —The bright and shining light of the 
garden. 
Marquita —Overlooked for Dykes medal by 
lateness of blooming; certainly worthy of 
such an award. 
Prof. S. B. Mitchell— Huge, and striking in 
color. Popular. 
King Midas— A “little giant” whose striking 
color ranks it with the best of the big ones. 
