FAIRMOUNT GARDENS I 

Choreword 
torn world, and with the coming of spring it seems as if 
; there is no place quite so close to Heaven on this earth as 
in a garden. Our days are filled with war time activities, but the 
moments we can spare may well be devoted to our gardens for so 
often it is working with the soil that gives us an inner sense of 
courage and well being. 
Perhaps that is why in the turmoil and uncertainty of the 
present time we find such a growing interest in gardens and gar- 
dening whether it be flowers or vegetables. An interest that will 
help to give us relaxation and the determination to carry on. So 
we will plant vegetables to feed our bodies, and flowers to feed 
our souls, pull in our belts, take our rationing in stride, and enjoy 
our homes and gardens. 
At first this year I contemplated sending out a price list with 
very brief descriptions, but there are so many lovely new iris and 
hemerocallis that it did not seem quite fair either to the customers 
or to the flowers not to tell you in detail about them. However, 
please save your catalogue this year so that another season if 
paper is more restricted you will have it for reference. 
We have omitted detailed descriptions of many well known 
varieties in order to conserve space, but if you wish more informa- 
tion about them we have a limited supply of the 1942 catalogue, 
and if, you request a copy one will be mailed to you. 
There are several hybridizers added to the list for whom we 
introduce, and as usual I will give you a brief sketch of their work. 
Mrs. Douglas Pattison of Freeport, Ill. needs no introduction 
for she has won international fame in the iris world, but until this 
year she has never consented to having an iris of her own breeding 
introduced. However Azure Skies has been so greatly admired by 
all that she has given me the pleasure of introducing it in my 
catalogue. 
Mr. E. L. Hodson of Glen Ellyn, Ill. is connected with a 
large school book publishing firm, and as so many business and 
professional men he devotes his spare time to his hobby of flowers, 
particularly iris and peonies. Evidently he has a discriminating 
eye and grows iris especially well for reports come to me of the 
many honors he has won in the Chicago Iris Shows. He has been 
hybridizing for several years and Path of Gold is the first of his 
iris to be introduced. A very descriptive name of a lovely golden 
yellow dwarf. 
Mrs. Watler E. Tobie of Portland, Me. needs no special intro- 
duction to iris enthusiasts for she is a charter member of The 
American Iris Society, and her iris garden is one of the most 
lovely in New England. She has been breeding iris for many years 
and has introduced several very worthy varieties that are well 
known. To me this new one, Down East, is the riost outstanding. 
It is a very dark but brilliant purple. 
Mr. Joseph F. Wiesner of Saint Louis, Mo. is a well known 
hybridizer and at the present time is in the Government Service, 
but retains his horticultural interest, His iris Peggy Wallace that 
I am introducing this year has been the sensation of his garcen for 
the past three years, and was largely responsible for his being given 
the 1942 Achievement Award of the Saint Louis Horticultural 
Society for his outstanding work in hybridizing. Peggy Wallace 
is an eidescentt blend of pink and white that well merits such an 
award. 
This year I am listing three rare Louisiana Beardless iris sent 
me by Mr. W. C. Fitzhugh of Shreveport, La. He has joined the 
army and is now a Lieutenant in the Air Corps. For years he has 
been intensely interested in all forms of iris, especially the Louisi- 
ana species and hybrids. Although these are not iris bred by Lt. 
Fitzhugh, yet they are so outstanding I think they should be called 
Wim firm and valiant steps we march forward in this war 
R 
to your attention. Kraemer Yellow, a light sulphur yellow with 
large broad blooms. Kraemer Tan, a soft ivory tan. Maringouin 
Fulva, the largest most brilliant yellow of the Fulva blood. I have 
grown these in my northern garden for three years, and can assure 
they are thoroughly hardy, and bloom well in this cold climate. 
As in previous years I am presenting to the public the new 
Introductions of the following prominent breeders, Space will not 
allow me to go into detail about them in the Foreword, but com- 
plete descriptions of all of these will be found in the list of Intro- 
ductions for 1943. 
Mrs. T. A. Washington of Nashville, Tenn. has three new 
varieties, two in the Bearded and one in the Beardless class. These 
were bred by Mr. Washington. Leilani, a most outstanding and 
lovely pink in the new class of “Seashell” pinks. Reliance, a strong 
and sturdy red. Blue Zephyr, a delightful misty blue Spuria. 
From Mr. Carl Carpenter of Owensboro, Ky. there are two 
of unusual charm. Kentucky Beauty, a glowing deep pink, Ken- 
tucky Sunshine, a very brilliant yellow. 
Three were chosen from the many lovely seedlings of Mr. K. 
D. Smith of Staten Island, N. Y. Louise Blake is most pleasing 
with its pale blue standards and rich blue purple falls. Ilse Louise, 
a large tall plicata of white and deep lavender. Elegans, a charm- 
ing cream flushed with deeper yellow. 
Dr. Henry L. Grant has only one that is being introduced this 
Loe White Wedgewood is a large blue white with a deep blue 
eard. 
This year there are two from Mr. Geddes Douglas that are 
most distinctive. Etoile D’Or as the name implies is a pure deep 
yellow, Northman, a very large fine white with a long season of 
oom, 
yoy Vou will find the Hemerocallis Introductions for 1943 follow- 
ing the Iris Introductions. These have been chosen with great care 
and have been highly commended by Hemerocallis Judges. 
In the list of NEW AND UNUSUAL IRIS that I have 
added to the garden in 1942, I wish to call your special attention 
to the five varieties from Mr. Jacob Sass, and one from Mr. Paul 
Cook. They are Alba Superba, Moonlight Madonna, Moonlit Sea, 
Ola Kala, Sunset Serenade, and Flamely. These are all of excep- 
tional merit and 7 appreciate the privilege of presenting them to 
you in the year of their Introduction. Also this list contains many 
of the best new iris introduced in 1942 by other dealers. 
There are many of the newest iris and hemerocallis seedlings 
of breeders from all parts of the country that are on display for 
Judges to rate. 
As always, I have used care and discrimination in the selection 
of varieties for Introduction by Fairmount Gardens and it is with 
pride and pleasure that I present them to you in this catalogue. 
You are cordially invited to visit the garden at any time that 
suits your convenience. If you are unuable to do so, and feel you 
need advice about varieties to choose, write me and I shall use the 
same care as if I were selecting for my own garden. 
_There are express trains from Boston to Lowell with good 
taxi service from the station to FAIRMOUNT GARDENS. 
Our Exhibition Garden is located at 166 Fairmount Street, 
Lowell, Mass. and our telephone number is Lowell 2-5121 listed 
under the name of Thomas Nesmith. 
Lowell is about 26 miles from Boston, Coming from Boston 
to Lowell on Route 38, at the Oakland Fire Station (near the out- 
skirts of the city) turn off on to Fairmount Street and at the top 
of the hill you will find Fairmount Gardens. Anyone coming to 
Lowell on other routes should ask for Nesmith Street on which 
you will find Route 38, and then follow above directions. 
