HYBRIDIZERS' PAGE 
WHY GROW HYBRIDS? 
The garden trend nowadays is distinctly away from the un- 
interesting and monotonous masses of single colors or varieties, 
and toward the more pleasing effects that can be achieved either 
through planned color harmonies and blendings, or through the 
simple use of plant material that is naturally somewhat variable. 
It is in the latter field that the new hybrids reign supreme. Their 
infinite variability will intrigue you, and at the same time pro- 
vide a ready means for you to start the most fascinating of hobbies 
—plant breeding and selection to achieve new and better flow- 
ers. Since we operate a hybridizing garden, we are in position to 
offer you various kinds of hybrid plant material at money-saving 
prices. 
HYBRID IRIS COLLECTIONS 
Another example of the exceptional values for which the 
Rainbow Gardens is so well known. Since we do hybridizing of 
tall bearded Iris on a large scale, we have as a by-product many 
thousands of beautiful unnamed seedling Iris. We select a few 
out of each thousand for propagation, testing and possible in- 
troduction at prices ranging from $5 to $25 per rhizome. The 
inferior seedlings are discarded. All of the rest are used in 
making up the following two collections, each of which gives 
you a-full Rainbow cclor range. Shipment begins in August or 
September. 
EXTRA CHOICE HYBRIDS. Only the finest new seedlings are 
used for this collection for Iris lovers who want the best at a 
modest price. If these were named varieties, you would pay $1 
to $5 each for Iris of this quality—a gorgeous array of 15 be- 
witching beauties, mostly of large size, labeled by color, for 
only $10.00. 
CHOICE HYBRIDS. A real money-saver for those who want fine 
Iris and are not particular about having named varieties. These 
are priced almost the same as our Beginner’s Collection (page 22) 
but we consider the flowers of these new seedlings to be much 
finer, more colorful, and to average larger in size than the much 
older named sorts which necessarily make up the Beginner’s Col- 
lection—in fact, if these were named varieties you would pay 
50c to 75c each for them. We offer you 10 delightful hybrids, 
labeled by color, for only $3.50. 
IRIS POLLEN AVAILABLE! 
A Unique New Service for Hybridizers 
If your hybridizing ambitions are greater than your pocket- 
book, try this new economical way to hybridize with the latest 
creations. Full hybridizing directions with all pollen orders; 
also with other orders—see back of order blank. Prices per pill 
box of pollen-bearing anthers: 
up to $2.50 
at $ 3.00 to $ 4.50 
at. 5. 00-t01 S950 
ato O.00) tors. 9-50 
at $20.00 and up 
$ .50 for varieites priced 
$1.00 for varieties priced 
$1.50 for varieties priced 
$2.00 for varieties priced 
$2.50 for varieties priced 
The number of anthers per pill box will vary from 1 to 10 or 
more, according to the newness and rarity of the variety and 
according to our stock. Where we have plenty of flowers, you 
will receive many anthers, even of expensive new varieties. The 
minimum acceptable pollen order is $2.00. We send all pollen 
by prepaid AIR MAIL the day your order arrives, providing open- 
ing flowers are then available of the varieties desired. We 
suggest that you send us your order by AIR MAIL, so it will 
reach us while the pollen is still in good condition. Pollen of 
the newer varieties is. limited and will be in great demand, so 
ic is to your advantage to mail your order TODAY. 
Since in pollinating your Iris flowers you are carrying out but 
the first of a series of fascinating steps that will be a focal point 
for your interest for several years, it never pays to use pollen 
of old out-moded varieties. Choose your parent varieties care- 
fully, and plan to profit from the great advances made in recent 
years by the Iris breeders by using their best creations as your 
starting points. 
A few varieties do not produce good pollen. If you should 
order one of these we will, unless you instruct us otherwise, send 
We hybridize—also 
you good pollen of another variety of equal and frequently better 
value, of similar color, correctly labeled. 
Buying pollen is not only economical, but it has the big ad- 
vantage of enabling you to save a year or two in trying out those 
special crosses that you have dreamed up. If you are going to do 
much hybridizing, you will want rhizomes, too, so that you will 
have your own pollen in future years. So, if you order a rhizome 
of a variety at the same time that you order pollen of that variety, 
you may deduct 25% from the cost of that pollen. 
HYBRID IRIS SEED 
For those who wish to start with seed in their adventures in 
creating new Iris, we offer hybrid seeds from the better varieties. 
Each seed will produce a new flower different from all others, 
though there is often a strong resemblance to the seed parent. 
Experience the thrill of being the first to see each seedling 
beauty unfolding its petals. Some will be outstanding; and nearly 
all will be worth growing. The rhizomes of each seedling will 
increase from year to year, and will always produce flowers true 
to the original. 
Last year we bloomed well over a thousand seedlings grown 
from this type of seed sown in January, 1945, and had a won- 
derful array of bright and pastel colors and fine types, many 
with large flowers. We have selected a number of these and are 
testing them for possible naming and introduction as improved 
new varieties. With hybrid seed you can easily try your hand at 
the fascinating hobby of originating new varieties. Sow as soon 
as received, and mulch in cold regions. Some will germinate the 
first spring and some the second. Special cultural directions 
with all orders for this seed. 
Hybrid Seed of TALL BEARDED Iris. This sold out early last year, 
so order NOW if you wish to try it; then we can reserve what you 
want. Shipped August to January. 
Mixed seed from many good varieties: Packet 75c; 3 for $1.50 
Seed from several fine varieties of any one of the following 
colors: Pink, Red, Yellow, Blue, Violet. (Please give one 
or two second choices.) 
Packet $1.00; 3 of the same or different colors, $2.00 
Hybrid Seed of SIBERIAN Iris. (Ready now.) 
A choice mixture collected chiefly from recent novelties. 
Packet 50c; 3 for $1.00 
HYBRID GLADIOLUS SEED 
We offer this year a superb medley of seeds gathered last 
fall from most of the 125 named varieties of all colors in our 
collection, including a great many new ones selling for 50c to 
$10 per bulb. As we have discontinued growing gladiolus, in 
order to enable us to specialize on Iris in a wide variety of rare 
types, this is the last time we will offer gladiolus seed. We wish 
we could sow this seed ourselves and be the first to look upon 
the myriads of new colors and forms that are bound to appear 
-—but our decision has been made, so here is your opportunity. 
(Seed ready now.) Generous packet, 50c, 3 for $1.00 
Sow in spring, covering 34’. Keep bed partially shaded and 
fairly moist. By fall you should have many blooming-size bulbs 
containing the potentialities for beauties as yet unseen by the 
eyes of man. 
HYBRID BEDDING DAHLIA SEED 
Here also we offer you beauty for less. Instead of paying 50c 
Or more apiece for tubers of dwarf bedding dahlias, sow this 
seed and get many blooming size plants the first year, and tubers 
for next year. Very colorful, in red, yellow, salmon, pink, etc. 
A feature offering. Ready now. Packct 50c; 3 for $1.00 
QUESTIONNAIRE 
We are gradually developing a service to aid plant hybridizers, 
especially Iris hybridizers, in as many ways as possible. To guide 
us in developing the kind of service that is most needed we have 
this year included on our order blank a very simple question- 
naire. We hope you will take a minute to check off your answers, 
so as to give us the benefit of your reactions on these matters. 

we help hybridizers. 23 
