“Blowers from the Wilds of Missouri” 
HOW TO GROW IRIS 
1. Work soil well to a depth of 10 to 12 inches. If soil is 
heavy, incorporate sand so moisture percolates out quickly. 
The soil should not be acid. If it is, apply lime, otherwise 
no lime is recommended. 
2. Iris will thrive without feeding, but will respond to its 
application. Use care not to get nitrogenous materials on 
or near the roots, rot may start. An excessively heavy 
nitrogenous feeding will give very lush growth which is 
more susceptible to rot. In the preparation of your new 
Iris bed, spade in a good application of compost below 
the roots. Well processed compost is ideal. Then an appli- 
cation of a well balanced fertilizer applied as a top dress- 
ing dusted around and in between the plants in early 
spring or very late fall is desirable. Steamed bone meal 
and super-phosphate are fine top dressing materials. The 
compost furnishes humus and valuable soil organisms. 
3. Cultivating should be done shallowly. Iris feeding 
roots are very near the surface. Keep your Iris free of 
weeds and do not allow neighboring plants to encroach 
upon them. Remember, they should have sunlight right 
down to the rhizome. Remove the outer leaves as they 
begins to brown. AT ALL. TIMES KEEP LITTER, OLDVIRIS 
LEAVES, -GRASSEo, EI'CS AWAY FROM: THE. RHIZOME. 
4. The ideal location for your Iris is a sunny well drained 
position. Sunshine, at a minimum half days; Iris will not 
do well in the deep shade. No water should stand in your 
Iris beds. 
5. We prefer to cultivate shallowly after each rain when 
the ground has dried sufficiently for proper tilth. As the 
Iris grow, the outside foliage becomes limp. We remove 
these outside leaves every so often. Particularly about two 
weeks after blooming time. We do not trim the Iris foliage 
on established plants except to cut off some leaf spot should 
that show up. Bloom stems are cut level with the ground 
after blooming on a dry day so the cut heals quickly. 
6. For best results plant July through September. Early 
planting establishes the new Iris plants before winter. This 
is the time to reset clumps of Iris that are crowded, gener- 
ally clumps 3 or 4 years old. In the extreme heat of the 
South, it is more advisable to plant after the extremes of 
summer heat are over—September is recommended. 
7. Old clumps should be thinned after they become 
crowded, about every four years. Dug up clumps, remove 
and discard the old center divisions that have blossomed 
and replant the fresh, largest foliage fans after the soil has 
been renovated. 
8. Watering depends on location. Newly set plants need 
moisture so they can grow a new root system. Water at 
fairly long intervals in dry weather. Established plants do 
not require watering except in very arid parts of the coun- 
try. At times of excessive heat newly set plants can be 
shaded by upright shingle or some such protection cutting 
off the direct rays of the sun for a few days. 
9. We strongly advocate protective winter covering, par- 
ticularly in the most northern sections. A light covering of 
marsh hay, straw, or some like weed-free litter is highly 
advised. New set plants in particular must be protected 
as a preventive to the injury caused by freezing and thaw- 
ing. Remove covering when spring growth begins. 
10. Place your rhizomes just below the surface of the 
ground with the roots well spread out underneath so the 
rhizome is within reach of the warmth of the sun’s rays, the 
roots beneath are in moist (not soggy) soil. Be sure to firm 
the soil tightly around each rhizome when planting. 
ris 
ACTION FRONT (Cook, 1942) Each $1.00 
BK. M. 36 in. A blaze of glory flares up in this coppery red iris. 
Both standards and falls are broad, the haft is solidly colored, 
while the beard is a brilliant yellow. 
ADMIRAL NIMITZ (Graves, 1948) Each $5.00 
A spectacular new white from a famous introducer. The crisp, 
firm flowers, with closely domed standards and semi-flaring falls 
are large and very white, surmounted by a thick brilliant gold 
beard. 36 to 42 inches in height. H. M., A. I. S., 1948. 
AFAR (Lapham, 1948) Each $5.00 
BE. M. 34 in. This sprightly orange sherbert toned pink is one 
of the new toned pinks with a color cast all its own. The flower 
can be spotted from afar so outstanding is its color. Fine sized 
blooms, branched stems. A Flower of instant color appeal. 
ALADDIN’S WISH (Murawska, 1945) Each $2.00 
Here is really a break in iris color that is most pleasing and 
novel. The color is difficult to adequately describe, being a 
lovely shade of dulcet medium blue with brushings of cream 
radiating through the flower. Flowers are very large with full 
broad standards and copiously formed falls. Substance excel- 
lent and branching very good. 36 inches. 
ALBA SUPERBA (J. Sass, 1943) Each $2.00 
M. 38 in. A striking, magnificient white, broad and expansive 
with protrusively domed standards, flaring falls, white as monu- 
mental alabaster with heavy substance. 
ALEPPO PLAIN (J. Sass, 1943) Each $1.50 
A yellow plicata. Cream ground heavily dotted and sanded on 
edge forming a border of pansy purple. Large flowers on 36 
inch good branching stems. 
ALPINE GLOW (Kleinsorge, 1945) Each $1.50 
M. L. 36 in. Intriguing soft dusty rose. In the shade or on a dull 
day the subdued rose with pale lilac infusion gives a cool idyllic 
impression. In the sunlight its bright pinky tones “carry” ef- 
fectively. Lightly ruffled petals. 
AMANDINE (G. Douglas, 1946) Each $4.00 
This cool lemon cream self is a great favorite among the new 
cream iris. Etched with the delicacy and clearness of Haviland 
china, yet of that wonderful substance which withstands adverse 
weather conditions so well. Blossoms are beautifully ruffled 
with broad, rounded full petals of perfect form on well branched 
stalks. Award of Merit A. I. S., 1948. Midseason. 36 inch. 
AMBER BEAM (Milliken) Each $1.50 
Rose-beige standards and warm honey-yellow falls framed with a 
rose-beige frill. The beard and styles are very bright gold which 
gives the flower a bright glowing appearance. 2 ft. 
AND THOU (Graves, 1942) Each $1.00 
M. 40 in. A revelation of true beauty, this iris of pale mist blue- 
white deepens in intensity with a faint blue blush at the haft. 
A deep blue beard tipped white adds a novel touch to the large 
flowers. 
ANGELUS (Egelberg, 1937) Each 50c, 3 for $1.00 
L. 36 in. Creamy lavender-pink. A distinct and beautiful color 
in a large, broad-petaled flower of heavy substance, blooming 
late. 
APRICOT (Kleinsorge, 1938) Each 50c, 3 for $1.25 
This is a seedling of Far West, a solidly colored golden apricot 
self. Of medium size, with a slight fluting and ruffling in both 
standards and falls. Height about 3 feet. 
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