PLEASE KEEP THIS CATALOGUE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE 
I T IS an expensive publication and in all probabilities will not be reprinted next year. With 
tremendous quantities of paper and other printing necessities coming from abroad, as far as I 
can now see war conditions are going to make it impracticable and unprofitable to continue 
printing such elaborate catalogues. Very few people realize how expensive they are. Most people 
would be surprised to know that the original color plates alone of the subjects illustrated in color 
in this one catalogue, cost about $12,000 and I am issuing three colored catalogues and several 
colored folders each year. This Iris catalogue is, I believe, the most elaborate publication of its 
kind ever printed, and in conjunction with other catalogues previously sent out, will comprise 
a valuable compendium of information on the subject of Iris. 
One of the largest and most prominent European Nurserymen, in writing and complimenting 
me on my Iris Catalogues, said that he was having his copy bound as a permanent addition to his 
horticultural library. Schools and colleges, libraries, and Government agencies often write me for 
copies, which I am always glad to supply, and I am repeatedly asked for permission to reprint 
part of the contents of my catalogues or folders in magazines, newspapers or books. Such per¬ 
mission is always granted and it is a source of satisfaction to me that those who know, appreciate 
these publications. 
I have grown several thousand varieties of Iris, studied them carefully, watched their habits 
and tried to describe as many of them as possible in my various catalogues. In the present catalogue, 
a greater number of colored illustrations than usual has made a smaller number of descriptions possible. If conditions should 
improve, or business justify it, I may print another elaborate Iris book next year, but present indications would seem to point 
to the probability of just a boiled down price list next year. 
During each season I receive hundreds of nice letters from those who have been pleased with the stock I have sent them. I am 
always happy to receive these voluntary testimonials, which come from all parts of the world. Just a few brief ones, or extracts 
from them, will be scattered throughout this book. 
The color illustrations in this catalogue are an honest attempt to present as near as possible on paper, a true picture of the 
varieties represented. They are produced in several ways. Some of them, such as Rameses, Noweta, Pseudacorus, Los Angeles, 
Dichotoma, The Japanese Iris, the group of Louisiana Species, etc. have been produced from water-color paintings made by expert 
horticultural artists, with the flowers in front of them while the paintings are being made. Others, such as King Karl, Mary Gibson, 
Mary Geddes, Cristata, Tectorum, Luna, Caesar, George Wallace, Laevigata-Albo-Purpurea, etc. were photographed by expert 
commercial photographers, then colored by hand with the flowers before the artist, and the color plates made from the finished 
picture. Others have been photographed to get the actual form, and then, instead of trying to color the photograph, the artist 
has made a painting from this photograph with a color record to guide him as to color. This is done where the flower is out of 
bloom before the artist has finished his work. Hundreds of prints made by color photography, with the expectation of using them 
for making color plates, have never been used for that purpose because they produced the least accurate color results, and this 
process has therefore been abandoned for the present. I believe the color work in my various catalogues and folders has been about 
90% accurate and I feel that this is a very high percentage in any business or profession, especially when you consider that the 
artist, the engravers and printers, all have something to do with it, saying nothing about variation in paper surfaces and texture, 
and the fact that a large number of sets of color plates, made at different times by different engravers, are all run together at one 
time on a large press. The amount, or quality of ink used to bring out the effect on one illustration, therefore has a direct bearing 
upon all other prints in the book. The results achieved I believe are far above the average for color work and perhaps the only 
way it could be improved would be by printing each subject separately. Then this book would become a work of art, instead of a 
catalogue and would have to be sold for several dollars a copy. It is stating a fact very mildly in saying that every Iris is much 
more handsome than the illustration. 
During the past season there were a few cases of misunderstanding regarding prepayment of postage or expressage and I 
want to try to clarify this policy to avoid any misunderstanding in the future if at all possible. I prepay postage or expressage 
anywhere in the United States on packages having a value of $2.00 or over. On all foreign shipments the transportation is to be 
paid by the purchaser. On packages of less value than $2.00, there is a charge of 20c for postage and packing. This does not cover 
my actual cost, as I find it costs me about 50c to handle an order, pack it and prepay the postage on it, even if it is only for one 
10c Iris. Therefore, I prefer not to send out packages of less than $2.00 value, and do so only as a matter of accommodation to 
the purchaser, sharing the expense of filling these small orders wfith the purchaser by making a nominal charge of 20c for each such 
package. Of course an order may be for $3.00 or more and not qualify for free delivery if parts of the order must be sent at different 
times, or packed in two separate packages. All Tall Bearded Iris, Autumn Flowering Iris, Miniature Bearded Iris, and Pogocyclus 
Hybrids can be shipped at one time from my Iris ranch in Grandview, Washington. All Japanese and Siberian Iris, Spurias, and 
all Beardless Species and Hybrids can be shipped together. Outside of this any group ordered, should amount to $2.00, to obtain 
free delivery. 
All orders will be filled with large, strong, healthy, flowering size plants and all plants are of course guaranteed 
true to name. There is no place in the world where this is more carefully guarded than in my gardens and on my 
farms. 
I always send the finest plants I have of the variety ordered. Each variety will of course be properly labeled and carefully packed. 
I ship them all over the world successfully and they arrive as safely abroad, where I make many shipments annually, as they do 
right in my own State. I have never had a single complaint about one of the foreign shipments, so no matter where you are located 
you need not hesitate to entrust your orders to me. 
NO SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE MADE UNLESS YOU AUTHORIZE ME TO DO SO. 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, 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. 
Owing to the great expense of keeping names on my mailing list, only those who order something each year are 
kept on the list. I wish it were possible to do otherwise, but the thousands who ask for catalogues annually and then never 
order anything, make this a necessary rule. 
