RELATIVE VALUES 
A S Professor Einstein would say, "Everything is Relative." Perhaps that is 
a more fundamental fact than we realize. Perhaps it is true that the 
person who has a proper conception of the relative values of things is 
happiest and gets the most out of life; the relative values of industry and indo¬ 
lence, of enthusiasm and indifference, of a cheerful disposition and a surly one, 
of truth and falsehood; we could go right through life's qualities, habits and 
values and make comparisons that are so obvious that they need no elaboration. 
But it is in the field of Gardening that I sometimes think the relative values of 
things are lost sight of. We spend 25c or 50c to see a "movie" and are enter¬ 
tained for an evening. We spend the same amount for an Iris and what hap¬ 
pens? Instead of a fleeting moment of enjoyment, the investment in one Iris 
can bring years of pleasure. Its brilliant colorful flowers are messengers of cheer 
and hope; and as a symbol of industry it is hard to equal; for the one Iris should 
produce four good sturdy plants at the end of a year; if these are divided the 
four should each produce four more or sixteen at the end of the second year; 
these 16 will each produce four, or 64 at the end of the third year; 256 at the 
end of the fourth year and, Believe it or Not, 1,000 strong sturdy plants at 
the end of the fifth year. But in all probability long before this you will have 
begun to divide with your friends and neighbors, and they in turn with their friends and neighbors. I can think 
of nothing that will convert a community into a garden spot more quickly than for a few enthusiasts to plant a 
collection of the modern Iris, with all their entrancing beauty, and start distributing them in the community as 
they multiply. In fact the family treasury can often be materially augmented by selling the increase to one's 
neighbors at a modest price. My first Iris sales aggregated ten thousand plants of one variety sold to a great 
many different individuals, all of which had been produced from an original purchase of one single plant. 
It is because of this rapid increase that I am able to pay $50, or $75. or $100. for a single plant and after a 
few years distribute it among other flower lovers for 25c or 50c a plant. 
Of course no one would think of ordering just one 25c Iris, whereas for the same amount that might be spent 
on an evening dinner and theatre entertainment, one may enjoy a beautiful garden for years to come. Some¬ 
how many people feel they cannot afford an Iris Garden, yet with little thought as to "relative values," will spend 
many times the amount each year in less enduring and less satisfying things. For, considering the rapidity with 
which Iris multiply, it requires but a modest investment to convert an unattractive garden into a magical beauty 
spot within a few years, a spot that can be the attraction of the neighborhood and an inspiration to others. A car, 
or a piece of furniture begins to deterioriate as soon as it is bought, whereas a collection of Iris begins to multi¬ 
ply and increase in beauty by leaps and bounds with each succeeding year. 
But aside from making one's garden a show place at comparatively little expense, there are other tangible 
values to gardening that must not be overlooked, for it is certain the span of life is materially lengthened by 
one's gardening activities, and that there is added zest and added health to one's living. And if you should decide 
to sell your home, you will find that an attractive garden adds immeasurably to the saleability of your property. 
I wish it were possible to illustrate many of the newer introductions in color, for the new colors that have 
been added in recent years, and the improvements that are constantly being made, are far more striking than 
in any other flower. If you have not seen a modern collection of Iris in flower, you can have no idea of their 
great beauty. 
The idea I have heard expressed that Iris have a short flowering season is erroneous. Even the Tall Bearded 
Iris flower throughout a full four weeks period, and surely no other flower produces such a prodigious quantity of 
gorgeous blooms during a four week period. Other groups bloom earlier and later than these. We have Reti¬ 
culata which flowers in March; the Miniature Bearded Iris in April; the Pogocyclus Hybrids and Tall Bearded 
Iris in May, the latter continuing into June, with the Siberian Iris and the Beardless Species and Hybrids; then 
during July we have the Japanese Iris; Iris Dichotoma in August, followed by the new race of Fall Blooming 
Iris, from September until frost. Then we have the Winter Flowering Iris Stylosa, which refuses to flower until 
cold weather sets in. In fact no flower can excel the Iris in giving such an extended flowering season, such a 
great variation in type, and such great diversity of color. 
This catalogue lists the finest and most comprehensive collection of Iris in the world. There isn't a poor one 
in the lot. ALL ORDERS WILL BE FILLED WITH LARGE, STRONG, HEALTHY, FLOWERING SIZE PLANTS and 
ALL PLANTS ARE OF COURSE GUARANTEED TRUE TO NAME, AND THERE IS NO PLACE IN THE WORLD 
WHERE THIS IS MORE CAREFULLY GUARDED THAN IN MY GARDENS. I always ship the very finest plants 
I have of the variety ordered. Each variety of course will be properly labelled and all will be carefully packed. 
I ship them all over the world successfully and they arrive as safely in China, where I make shipments annually, 
as they do right in my own state. I have never had a single complaint about one of these foreign shipments, so 
no matter where you are located you need not hesitate to entrust your order to me. 
NO SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE MADE UNLESS YOU AUTHORIZE ME TO DO SO. At the time of placing 
your order, if you will give me permission to substitute in case I am out of any of the varieties selected, I will, 
on any such substitutions made, give you at least 25% extra value. Otherwise I will refund the money for any 
varieties I am unable to ship. 
IF YOU PREFER TO LEAVE THE SELECTION TO ME, RATHER THAN DECIDE UPON IT YOURSELF, JUST 
GIVE ME AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE AND I WILL BE PLEASED TO GIVE MY PERSONAL 
ATTENTION TO MAKING THE SELECTION FOR YOU, GIVING YOU AT LEAST 25% EXTRA VALUE, AND 
MAKING THE SELECTION AS CAREFULLY AS THOUGH IT WERE MADE FOR MY OWN PLANTING. 
I AM SURE YOU WILL BE MORE THAN PLEASED WITH ANY SELECTIONS I MAKE FOR YOU. 
ALL PRICES ARE STRICTLY NET CASH. Prices are per plant, excepting where otherwise stated. 
PLANTING AND CULTURAL DIRECTIONS WILL ACCOMPANY ALL SHIPMENTS. 
ALL ORDERS OVER $2.00 WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR BY PARCEL POST OR EXPRESS 
ALL CHARGES PREPAID, ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. ON ORDERS OF $2.00 OR LESS, 
PLEASE ADD 20c TO COVER POSTAGE AND PACKING. On foreign shipments the transportation is to 
be paid by the purchaser. 
