WHY JAPANESE IRIS??? 
= In the scope of the last few years, many of our tradesman friends, in casual conversation with us, have 
expressed some wonder at the extensive plantings of Japanese Iris which are in our nurseries. ‘Why,’ they 
asked, ‘the great attention to this plant family? What is the reason behind the row upon row of Japanese Iris 
that we find here? What is the value that prompts this great effort?’’ It has always given us a great deal of 
pleasure to discuss this with them, and we’ve found that we were able to impart information that was of value 
and which would prove profitable to these men in the employment of this beautiful, useful plant in their work. 
With us, the romance of the Japanese Iris has its beginning in the infancy of our business, when, as a plant 
fanciers hobby, we made purchase of 25 plants each of our good varieties for our own enjoyment. In a few years 
we had increased our quantities of these four varieties. During their flowering season, visitors to our establish- 
ment insisted on purchasing whatever we could spare and continuously urged us to grow larger quantities and 
expand our list. 
We then began to contact the outstanding growers of Japanese Iris, always insisting on the better varieties. 
We would often buy as many as 25 new varieties, soon discovering duplications and discarding inferior ones. We 
added only those which in our opinion were worth propagating and growing. We are continuing this same 
system today. That is why we believe that we have growing here in our nurseries the largest plantings of Japa- 
nese Iris in cultivation today, consisting of the most worthwhile assortment of varieties. 
We carefully disseminated our stock to the trade in all its branches. Everywhere, those who try them 
report tremendous success and envision the possibilities of good profit in their turnover. This feeling and 
spirit has grown into a fine department of our business, and each year sees the sale of upwards of a half million 
rhizomes—repeated year after year. this can mean only one thing — that our customers are realizing a good 
profit from the sale of the Iris that we grow for them. 
Here is why they are successful: 
FOR THE LANDSCAPER — nothing equals their beauty for planting around small lakes and fish ponds, and for 
livening up a well rounded-out perennial planting. 
FOR THE NURSERYMAN — they are fast becoming leaders in the assortment of perennials. They are easily 
grown and always provide the nurseryman with good profits. 
FOR THE RETAIL CATALOGUER — they outsell most of the items offered in a retail catalog and provide better 
than ordinary profits. 
FOR THE ROADSIDE STAND — People calling at stands are asking for Japanese Iris. This is a very worthy 
item and sufficient quantities of the best varieties should always be kept on hand. 
FOR THE FLORIST — In recent years the florist trade has fast been discovering that Japanese Iris can be cut in 
bud, allowed to open in water and in this manner become ideal for use in the better types of large floral 
arrangements. They are particularly adapted for baskets that are sent to openings. 
