OUR POLICY--AND NEW IRIS 
It has always been our policy to list the best. Naturally, 
when we purchase new varieties from catalog descriptions, 
we obtain some excellent iris — on the other hand, we find 
some that do not come up to our standards and are never 
cataloged. We feel that our high standard in this respect 
gives us a list that is comparable to an “iris honor roll”, 
for every variety we list is a worthy one. 
The past season we set out to see for ourselves all of the 
newer irises it was possible to see. My son, Edward, and I, 
traveling separately, visited the majority of the Nation’s iris 
gardens at peak bloom. Between us, we saw many good new 
iris, and we purchased stock of all of these finest, and have 
them growing in our gardens, excepting Boulderado, stock of 
which was acquired after the planting season was over. 
We also have the cooperation of Sydney B. Mitchell, one 
most authorative of iris critics, as well as the frank opinion 
of many other capable judges both in the United States and 
Europe. As an added safeguard, however, we make it a 
rule to see each iris in bloom before we catalog it. 
CARL SALBACH. 
-o- 
In quest of every fine new iris that was to be had, my 
father and I inspected a majority of the Nation’s iris gar¬ 
dens last spring. My father’s search took him through the 
Pacific Northwest. I “followed spring” from the Pacific 
Ocean to the Atlantic. Fortunately, we were able to see al¬ 
most all of the gardens at “peak” bloom. We are happy to 
report that we discovered some very fine iris. We are also 
pleased to be able to say that we saw many iris of our own 
introduction standing out as leaders wherever we went. 
For instance, I found Happy Days blooming every bit as 
well in Colorado and in the Mid-West as it does for us in 
Berkeley—a definite knockout. California Gold was unques¬ 
tionably one of the best wherever we saw it, and Naranja 
and Brunhilde were ranked as two of the most outstanding of 
all recent introductions — they certainly stood out like real 
champions. 
Grace Mohr, very sparsely distributed, was a real stunner 
the only place I saw a plant of it; Eleanor Blue a real leader 
in the blues, classed by one Mid-Western iris authority as the 
best blue of all; and Neon, Dark Knight, Natoma, and Spring 
Cloud also did themselves proud. 
But, back to iris varieties in general. In plicatas, Seduc¬ 
tion, with its lilac markings was among the very best, “differ¬ 
ent”, and most attractive. The new Sass variety, Orloff, was 
perhaps the most pleasing of all, being a clear rich brown, 
but the giant, Siegfried was the most sensational. It was 
bronze and white, stitched purple. An unfortunate stock loss 
prevented us from acquiring enough stock of this fine variety 
for listing, however. 
■ 
In variegatas, one of the “finds” of the trip was the strik¬ 
ing City of Lincoln — large, handsome and clear of color. 
Casque d’ Or, a larger and greatly improved Aurex, also took 
our eye as a variety to be classified with best. Our own 
Radiant, a near-variegata, introduced last season, remains 
definitely in the “super-iris” class. Neon, also a near-varie- 
gata, showed up well wherever we saw it. 
For yellows, we were inclined to agree with the A. I. S. 
judge, who grouped Lady Paramount and our introductions, 
California Gold, Happy Days and Naranja as a “Big Four.” 
We missed out in seeing Jelloway and Dr. Hanes seedling, but 
did see Jasmania. This one is a fine yellow, but we were 
not able to secure stock enough to list it until next year. 
In Blues, Brunhilde, mentioned above, was one of the very 
best in the dark tones. Sir Knight, we chose as the finest 
dark blue-violet bi-color, selecting it over a number of fine 
iris of this type. Sierra Blue, clear and bold, looked every 
inch the Dykes Medal winner that it is, as we saw it. Shin¬ 
ing Waters is a beauty, too. Our own Eleanor Blue, men¬ 
tioned previously, Missouri, Blue Triumph and Gloriole, were 
also exceptionally fine. 
In Whites, two we class as “supers”—our 1936 introduction, 
Bridal Veil (formerly Carissima), and Snow King. The 
former is the most delightfully delicate white we have ever 
seen, and the latter the showiest. Silent Waterfall, an E. O. 
Essig creation which we introduced last season, was the 
most “different”, for it is a “bi-color” white. A plant we 
saw in the Mid-West was blooming in fine style. In creams, 
Kalinga was the best of the big ones, and William Carey 
Jones, an inexpensive variety which has been completely over¬ 
looked, was the “cream” among those of medium size. 
■ 
In Reds, The Red Douglas was a real champion. Cheerio 
and Junaluska also were exceptional. Cheerio was a trifle 
the redder, with Junasluka having a slight blending of colors 
that gives it a little pinker tone than the former. Ouray, a 
gleaming brownish-red, was one of the very brightest we saw— 
although it is not a big iris. 
■ 
In Blends — Summer Tan, very suave and beautiful, and 
the new Sass variety Sandalwood were the finest bronzes, 
with Natoma, and the strikingly colored Copper Piece shad¬ 
ing toward copper. Moonglo was a most pleasing gold-blend, 
and Mid-west Gem was a very rich opalescent blend with a 
bold form that helps to give it real life. Another pearly 
blend that looked every bit a champion was Mr. D. M. An¬ 
drews iris, Boulderado, a real beauty that approaches pink. 
Last, but not least among the blends is our own variety, 
Lighthouse, which, of course, we did not see after leaving 
Berkeley, but of parentage that establishes its hardiness be¬ 
yond question. The more new iris we saw, the more we liked 
this one. Finely formed, bright in color, and blended in a 
distinct and pleasing manner, we feel that Lighthouse ranks 
as a “super-iris.” 
Golden Bow, a splendid yellow intermediate, and Sound 
Money, a gem of a yellow dwarf we purchased on recom¬ 
mendation, but at this writing, both are blooming for us and 
proving themselves to be top-notchers. 
■ 
In addition, we found a few moderately priced varieties 
which we have overlooked in previous years, and we im¬ 
mediately stocked on them. They are Avondale, coppery 
violet; Dog Rose, pink; Evolution, pinkish blend; Golden 
Light, best of the Euphony type blend; Lodestar, small but 
brilliant variegata; Winnishiek, deep blue-violet; and Red 
Radiance, a “different” red. 
EDWARD SALBACH. 
Above Comparison 
As this is written, our own origination, Radiant, has been in 
bloom for three days, but has already proven itself to be the 
sensation of our entire garden. Its color is so dazzlingly 
brilliant that it defies description, its beauty beyond com¬ 
parison. Among its many admirers is Sydney B. Mitchell, 
who ranks it as the finest Carl Salbach creation of. all, even 
greater than such iris as Brunhilde, Neon, Dark Knight, 
Eleanor Blue, etc. 
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