TOTTY’S IRISES, MADISON, NEW JERSEY 
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Tall Large-Flowering Bearded Flag Irises 
(Fleur-de-Lis) 
“The flower of chivalry , ivith a sworcl for its leaf and a lily for its heart.” —(Ruskin). 
Of the four really great perennials, Irises, Peonies, Delphiniums and Phloxes the Iris 
takes first rank in diversity of interest with its one hundred and fifty odd species and 
varieties innumerable. 
Myth, legend and history have always given it place as an emblem of power and 
hope. It is not generally known that “Consider the IiIies ,, was spoken of the Iris abundant 
in very lovely forms in that dry Eastern Land, where the lily is rare. That country was 
the source from which Sir Michael Foster, of England, “the Burbank of the Iris,” drew 
much material for the patient endeavor of a lifetime in securing beautiful crosses adapted 
to a less baking climate. To him the gardening world is indebted for the enrichment in 
color, form and fragrance of the bearded section particularly,which possesses more qualities 
of merit than any other out-door plant. It is hardy, as a dandelion, and happy in any 
good soil not stranger to the sun and good drainage. It increases rapidly and has great 
decorative value with its clean-cut foliage and huge spikes of bloom, in a wider range of 
color and color combinations than that of any other flower. 
Long narrow beds in the grass are lovely. With the bearded sorts wonderful gardens 
may be made even on a hill, Iris gardens are growing more and more a feature of well 
planted grounds. 
All varieties listed by us have been tested for garden worth. It is our purpose to offer 
not a long, distracting and indiscriminate list, but to give the cream of the standards and 
the worth-while novelties. Each had its special merit, which we have tried to indicate in 
the descriptions, but the opaline beauty of the Iris flower cannot be imprisoned in print. 
Buy Irises; plant Irises; until you have a good collection and when the lure of May 
and June is upon your garden you will agree that you have never had so much “care free” 
beauty. 
Difficult Slopes and Banks 
If you have such places to cover and protect, write us for suggestions. The vineyard- 
ists of Southern Europe discovered years ago that there is no “wash” in a soil lull of 
Iris roots. 
Culture and Planting 
Do not use manure. Lime the thoroughly prepared bed well and give an annual 
top-dressing of lime in the fall, with a top-dressing of bone meal in early Spring.* Do not 
plant in deep shade. Open woodland paths, if well drained, make admirable locations 
for broad masses of Iris, a notable example being the Iris Path on Admiral Ward’s beauti¬ 
ful place. 
Plant three feet apart and wait for clumps to form; or one foot apart for more im¬ 
mediate effect. Barely cover the rhizomes. Planting may be done at any time the ground 
is open, but the ideal time is through the months of July, August and September. The 
new growth is then active and the root quickly establishes itsell for blooming next season. 
Late plantings should be mulched with leaves or straw, not manure. 
Prices. Vigorous single roots are furnished at the prices quoted. The quality of 
our roots cannot be surpassed. They are grown and dug under the personal supervision 
of a specialist, in charge of this department and one who has spent years in the cultiva¬ 
tion and collection of this flower from all parts of the world. 
In the description, S. is used to designate the standards or upright petals; F., the falls 
or drooping petals. 
