STARS IN THEIR CROWN 
As im former years, we have “starred” the varieties 
which appeared on the 1945 lists of “100 BEST” irises of 
two high-class dealers, one in the East and one in the 
West. Also the list compiled by the prominent irisarian, 
Kenneth D. Smith, who has, for several years, conducted 
a poll of Judges of The American Iris Society. Where an 
iris appears on one of these lists, a star appears before its 
name. If on two lists; two stars; etc. Our own choice of 
100 BEST is also represented so that it is possible for a 
variety to be honored with four stars, and this indicates a 
pretty formidable concensus of opinion. 
If this opinion were perfectly unanimous, there would 
be only 100 varieties starred, and they would each have 
4 stars. The fact that this is not the case proves, merely, 
that differences of climate, soil, season, acquaintance, and 
personal preference, all play a part in this selection. 
ALL THE HEROES DIDN’T GET CITATIONS, EITHER 
The varieties not starred at all fall in two classes; those 
which are too new to be rated and those technically out- 
classed. Of the latter, many are highly attractive and, 
stars or no stars, we would not like to give them up. 
“Beauty,” we always say, “is in the eye of the beholder.” 
A good thing, too, otherwise a great many happy couples 
would never have gotten mated. 
OUR LOCATION IS GOOD FOR YOU 
Like the fellow that went West for his wife’s health, 
the geographical location of our gardens is a definite fac- 
tor in the success of your planting. It is neither east nor 
west, north nor south, but the happy medium which assures 
that our plants find themselves ‘‘at home” in all parts of 
the nation, and do not need an extra year of acclimatiza- 
tion before blooming. Summer comes early here and 
therefore the growing season is long, giving our plants 
extra time for development. The forty inches of annual 
rainfall suppHes ample moisture for natural and vigorous 
growth without resorting to irrigation. The dry summers 
ripen and toughen the rhizomes, and zero winters with 
sudden changes, severely test their hardihood. A trial 
order will convince you of the merit of our plants. 
OUR CUSTOMERS, MAY THEY ALWAYS BE RIGHT; 
BUT RIGHT OR WRONG, OUR CUSTOMERS! 
We acknowledge a debt of gratitude to our loyal cus- 
tomers, They have been most appreciative of our plants 
and have influenced their friends to try our service. This 
nas multiplied our sales and posed the problem of supplying 
ever Increasing numbers of plants. But we like that kind 
of problem and will always do our utmost to avoid dis- 
appointment to our valued customers, old or new. 
HEARTS BOWED DOWN 
We would like to quote a sad but beautiful letter, one 
of a number which we received in response to our expres- 
eee of sympathy for those whom the war had brought 
“Dear friends:—My heart was touched by your tribute 
Hat Over Heart,’ for we have had the telegram—‘We | 
Tegret to inform you—’—May your boy be safe always. 
On Decoration Day my flowers consoled me as nothing 
else. So I find myself ordering more iris from you.” 7 
Those of us, whose boys were spared, cannot rise to 
the eloquence of sympathy which moved even tight-lipped 
Calvin Coolidge to pen, in a book, the following inscrip- 
tien: “To my friend, in recollection of his son and my son 
who, by the grace of God, have the privilege of being boys 
throughout eternity.” 
We can, however, firmly resolve to remember, always, 
those boys who died, defendi igni of 
martina: , defending the dignity and decency 7 
Sincerely, 
EDITH and WALTER BUSS 
“Ede & Walt” 
4 
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