4 AORP NGOS Gard GARDENS 

go visiting. ... See the gardens we have long wanted to see, and visit the friends. 
.. . Forget the black years as much as we can... . 
I don’t know of anything that helps more to get over sorrow than flowers and 
friends. For many of us, with a garden of our own and friends close by, this con- 
stitutes our daily measuring stick of happiness—and all that we ask. 
a 
How many of you have seen a tornado or cyclone? If you did see one, how 
close were you to it, and what did you think? 
On April 7th I stood on the hill at Waldean. our farm home, and felt the onrush 
of a windstorm. ... and saw the cyclone come. Watched it lift houses, like kindling 
wood, high into the air. and smash them to the ground at Porter. less than a mile 
away. .. Wondering when and if it might suddenly change course and head my way. 
And what did I think? Mostly, how much damage would be done to the Iris 
if suddenly the buildings were picked up and laid flat across the fields. And what 
would we use for a packing shed if all the buildings went. Only later, when it was 
all over, did I begin to think it might have been a bit rough on me, too.... 
a 
Like all businesses trying to keep prices down yet forced to operate at contin- 
ved high costs, we have had to give considerable thought to this subject. One of our big 
costs, of course, is this catalog you are reading. Not merely the printing and mailing 
costs, but the year-around labor-of-love that goes into it. 
This year there won’t be any “extra” catalogs . . . or even scarcely enough to 
go around. So if you don’t want yours, won’t you please pass it on to some interested 
gardener, or even return it to us, allowing us to reimburse you for the postage. For 
such courtesy, our thanks in advance. 
Do * * 
Do you like prize contests? In the newspaper or over the radio? How would you 
like a “‘catalog” one? 
We thought you would, so here it is— 
For the best garden photos, featuring Iris, of course, received by us prior to 
September 1. 1948. we will give 5 prizes in Nursery Certificates, redeemable at TOP- 
NOTCH GARDENS. For first prize the certificate will be in the amount of $25.00; 2nd, 
$20.00; 3rd, $15.00; 4th, $10.00, and 5th, $5.00. 
The pictures may be ordinary snapshots of fair size, or enlarged prints. They 
should be good, clear pictures, and the negatives should be retained, as we may want 
to use them if your picture is a prize-winner. The winning pictures become our prop 
erty for use, if desired, in our catalog. A few notes as to the varieties of iris shown in 
the picture should accompany the snapshot. 
My son. James H. Small, assisted by a photographer anda “lay man,” will do 
the judging. The winners may select stock from our 1948 or 1949 catalog, or any item 
grown here at the nursery. 
% % % 
We coujdn’t let this catalog go to press without saying thank you to our many 
friends who wrote us last year about how their Iris were growing . . . who told us 
about new varieties seen in their region, and how they performed there. Especially we 
want to thank those who furnished us with notes of sight-seeing trips. 
The time has come . . . much as we regret it . . . to say “Bye. now. See vou in 
Nashville.” Or if we don’t see you in Nashville, at that long-looked-forward-to ANNU- 
AL MEETING, maybe we will see you in Indiana, Illinois or Ohio at the regional meet- 
ings. . . . Or perhaps we’ll just run into you at somebody’s garden where new iris are 
on display or the older ones growing exceptionally well... . Or maybe we’ll bump 
into you at one of the garden club shows, judging, or commenting on, the prize- 
winners. 
Maybe ... if I’m lucky . . . and wish on the new moon over my left (or is it 
right?) shoulder . . . I’ have the pleasure of saying hello to you at TOPNOTCH 
GARDENS where right now I ought to be outdoors, getting the iris beds ail ready for 
their annual visitors. 
So, as always, wishing you much happiness and success in your own Iris reading 
and growing— 
Sincerely, 
DEANETTE M. SMALL. 
