come increasingly more popular for they are of easy culture (thriving in almost 
anv varden soil), require very little care and make wonderful protection against 
against soil erosion. Their blooms are truly Orchid-like and their tough substance 
make them desirable as cut flowers or for corsages. Spurias resist diseases of all 
kind. They offer a good opportunity to those interested in hybridizing, for the 
present color-range is rather limited. 
Last season I had many requests for good iris seed, so | have decided to 
offer seed from select parents ata reasonable price, with the hopes that when 
“super-dupers bloom among the seedlings produced from this seed that I may 
be privileged to grow them here on trial or for possible introduction. [| have reach- 
ed the point where my ground here in the city is pretty well taken up with seed- 
lings, and of course | do want to increase the stocks of those | select for intro- 
duction, so less and less space can be given, each year, to seed. With my exper- 
ience (and I learn much by mistakes) I believe I can offer you seed that you may 
be five to ten years getting by the usual process of purchasing new introductions 
and breeding your own line of seedlings, for | have worked almost every color in 
iris and believe I have some fine parents in pinks, reds, whites, yellows, plicatas, 
oranges, (true orange- sherbet colors), exquisite blends, and of course blues and 
lines of greens and chartreuse. If at all possible I shall be glad to make spec- 
ial crosses for you, but you may rely on my judgement to use some of my seedlings 
which might put you years ahead if I find some cross you have selected will not 
take, or the parent or parents, lack pollen. In the pinks I will use my new intro- 
ductions and some new 1946, 1947 and 1948 seedlings, all of which stem from 
either Melitza, David Hall's flamingo pinks, Dr. Loomis’ Sea Shell lines or my 
own 44-67. Most of the pinks | have kept for breeding have quite sood form and 
many of them have wide flaring falls with extremely heavy substance. Jn the 
reds | have seedlings from Bryce Canyon, Garden Glory, Flamely, Casa Morena, 
Ouray, and a most lovely one # 47-45, which will be named from Mandalay x 
45-12 (E. B. Williamson x Prairie Sunset) a rose-red self with flaring falls. Arab 
Chief x 45-12 gave me fine oranges and blends. Arab Chief x Bryce Canyon gave 
several very brilliant red-coppers--one of which has been named The Showman, 
and will be introduced as soon as | can build up a small stock. I will be glad to 
use some of these as parents for you should you desire seed. I'll be able to use 
almost every iris listed in this catalogue as a parent should you desire any special 
cross, or crosses, but I must have your list of crosses and approximate number of 
seed wanted from each cross before the first of May. I will make all the crosses 
personally, for this year | have much of the seed from 1947 crosses still unplanted 
due to bad weather last fall and a lack of considerable space, but this seed will 
be planted next October if all goes well. 
Again | would like to hear from any of you who may have bred a seedling 
from Wm. Mohr, and | should be happy to exchange such seedlings with you or 
srow your things here on trial, and you may be assured all the stock will be at 
your command. I have hundreds of guests from friends all over the United States, 
England and Australia. Perhaps the good ones will some day adorn your gardens. 
Best wishes to all of you for a good iris season in 1948, and good plans (se 1949. 
I am, 
Very sincerely, 
TELE MUHEES TEIN 
teas 
Some varieties not carried in this 1948 catalogue are still being grown by 
Mrs. Crosby, so if any of you want certain varieties for your garden or for breed- 
ing work they may be had at standard prices. 
(4) 
