FOREWORD 
In the production of this strain of Japanese iris no effort 
has been spared to produce the highest quality. All plants 
grown are pedigreed, all crosses have been carefully planned 
before blooming season—some for a few years before crosses 
are made. No haphazard or spur of the moment crosses have 
been made at any time. 
Inasmuch as the following list of varieties is the first to be 
released after eighteen years of serious work in this section 
of the iris family the purchaser is naturally interested in 
learning what to expect of them. 
Doubtless that which ranks first in importance in any plant 
or strain of plants is vigor, or the ability to withstand adverse 
growing conditions as no matter how beautiful a flower may 
be if it is a poor grower most of us would not care to bother 
with it; consequently my first aim has been to develop a 
strain adapted to our midwestern climatic conditions which 
are not so favorable for the growing of these iris. It is obvious 
a strain which originates under these less favorable conditions 
should be even better in a locality more to its liking. 
Plants here are grown for at least three years closely spaced 
in trial beds which are precision planted allowing all plants 
as far as possible an equal chance. This is calculated to 
automatically eliminate weaklings. Varieties which show 
promise are transplanted to nursery rows and further tested 
for at least three years. However all this would avail little 
unless rigid rules were observed in the selection of varieties. 
To begin with any variety which shows weakness or unwilling- 
ness to bloom is either destroyed or if further retained is held 
in an effort to correct the defect or it may be kept for com- 
parison purposes and is not permitted to leave the garden. 
All varieties listed here have been good growers and generous 
bloomers in our garden. 
After a vigorous plant the flowers should possess beauty 
which is manifested in form, color and carriage. On account 
of the very limited color range in Japanese iris form is of 
primary importance. Of the various forms, and they are almost 
unlimited in variety as the Japanese iris shows greater variation 
in form than most other flowers, only those which are pleasing 
are acceptable. Size alone does not insure a superior flower 
as some large flowers lack refinement or are ungainly while 
others are exquisitely beautiful. Also the flower should have 
sufficient substance to hold its attractive shape. 
Then of color, clear color and decisive markings are most 
pleasing, dull or indifferent coloring and indefinite markings 
are seldom if ever satisfactory and also placement of color 
or color arrangement may enhance or mar the beauty of a 
flower, it should form an interesting color pattern. 
Plant habit is a very important consideration and a pleasing 
balance should exist between plant and flower—a flower which 
appears too small for the plant or one carried on a stem too 
tall for its size or the opposite effect is definitely not pleasing. 
Stems should be sufficiently large and strong to carry the 
flowers whatever their size, frequently stems are flexible or 
sprawling this is a serious fault. Again flowers should be 
borne on stems with sufficiently long and well spaced branches 
that they are not crowded and the more branches to a stem 
the greater the number of flowers the plant produces. Flowers 
should be well carried or poised on stem without the disgusting 
habit of hiding their faces because of a weak neck. Also the 
plant itself should look well in the garden. 
All these things and others are given consideration in the 
selection of varieties for naming. All varieties listed may not 
possess all these good qualities in full measure but the lack 
of any one to an appreciable extent would have prevented its 
inclusion in this list. 
