




In these dense swamps our collectors must often use a compass to find their way back to the 
road. Alligators, rattlesnakes and water moccasins add to the hazard of the collectors. 
studies are being made for purposes of hybridization 
and propagation. Much to the surprise of the bot- 
anists, the transplanted specimens have suffered no 
serious ill effects from the climatic change. There 
are small plantations of Louisiana transplanted irises 
thriving in Maryland, New Jersey and New York. 
Still smaller plantations are located in private reser- 
vations in other states, especially in California. 
In view of these facts, the Lower Mississippi Delta 
natural iris field constitutes the most spectacular 
botanical and horticultural discovery in North Amer- 
ica from the standpoint of a single genus within such 
a limited area. Aside from its magnitude, the out- 
standing points are the colonies of species, the great 
range and combination of colors, and the unusual 
size of the plants. Flowering stalks six feet tall are 
not unusual. Stalks seven feet high have been found. 
In such cases a six-foot man has to look up in order 
to see the flowers. 
Natural Beds Being Destroyed 
The Louisiana wild irises are fast disappearing, 
due, first, to the large number of collectors of these 
rare plants, second, to the growth of the city, where 
low places are being filled to make new streets, and 
third, to the wholesale destruction taking place as 
the result of the building of new roads and the dig- 
ging of canals, and the dredging in the construction 
of the many levees so necessary in this section. It is 
a regrettable coincident that the many improvements 
above referred to should strike at the very heart of 
these wonderful natural iris beds. 
Saving the Irises for Posterity 
It has been suggested to us by many botanists 
and floriculturists that some one in the immediate 
vicinity of New Orleans should devote his time and 
grounds to saving as many of the different varieties 
as possible. We have accepted this suggestion and 
are now engaged in the gathering, selection, propa- 
gation, and sale of these wonderful plants and their 
seeds. In this connection, may we not mention some 
of the hardships endured by our collectors? Our 
best collectors average about two hundred roots a 
day. They are often required to find their way out 
of the swamps with the aid of a compass. Rubber 
hip boots are inadequate to keep their legs dry. They 
must resort to the use of a large cane knife to cut 
the undergrowth and the entangelment of vines with 
the Palmetto palms, and to keep a watchful eye for 
an occasional alligator, rattlesnake, or water mocca- 
sin. Automobiles, boats, skiffs, and pirogues are the 
conveyances necessary for these collections. 
The Louisiana wild iris is not only found in the 
swamp, marshes and low lands, but also in elevated 
places. Their desperate fight for existence is best 
illustrated by the fact that they will work their heads 
through the edge of a gravel road which has been con- 
structed over some of the natural beds. 
It goes without saying that these lovely irises 
should be planted in moist places to reach their max- 
imum growth and beauty, but if such places are not 
available, they should be given plenty of water, 
especially in early spring during their flowering sea- 
son, which extends over a period of from sixty to 
ninety days. We have found many colonies growing 
and blooming high and dry on top of high levees 
where the roots had been thrown up by dredges. 
They are persistent in their existence and when you 
have planted a bed of these lovely flowers they will 
take care of themselves from year to year, to fur- 
nish quantities of cut flowers, for an extensive field 
in which cut flowers are used. 
Where to Plant Louisiana Wild Irises 
The Louisiana wild irises make their best showing 
when planted en masse or in groups in large beds. 
In estates, parks, and public grounds, several hun- 
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