March, 1952 
DEAR FRIENDS OF THE IRIS, 
Your encouraging response of last year makes possible a continuation of 
this price list, and your interest manifested from all sections and climes of 
the nation challenges us to greater service and increased activities toward 
breeding for and testing our iris in greater extremes of climate than has been 
done heretofore. 
The questions you asked could not be answered in this space, but since 
they fell into definite categories, a few words will be expended on the most 
common. 
Concerning culture: The best literature on the subject available at the 
present time is the newly published ‘‘1951-52 Yearbook of the Society for 
Louisiana Irises’’, now available for one dollar by remitting to the Society 
for Louisiana Irises, Box 365, S. L. I. Station, Lafayette, Louisiana. It con- 
tains articles written by growers in California, Massachusetts, Illinois, Mis- 
sissippi, Oklahoma, and Maryland, the last two being in a supplement. 
Concerning the time of shipment: Many wanted to know why fall ship- 
ment is preferred to shipment in the late spring. The iris begin their luxurious 
spring growth in February here, not allowing shipments to be made before 
the ground thaws in northern climates. Immediately after flowering, the 
plants are spent and need the few remaining weeks to recuperate before the 
heat and drought of summer force them to dormancy. The temperature has 
reached summer torridity by mid-May, too, which is not ideal shipping 
weather, particularly to southern states or to the West Coast. In the summer 
the plants become dormant. Beginning in September, the weather cools 
enough to stimulate the plants into renewed growth. The rhizomes are small 
at this stage due to lessened water content, but they suffer less from the 
digging and shipping process, and the prospects of bloom the first spring in 
the garden is increased thereby. Therefore, the fall shipments have proved 
more satisfactory. However, our policy is still to ship when our clients re- 
quest it. 
Concerning hardiness: An extensive testing program has been launched 
recently that should benefit all of us. As the reports begin to come in 
varietal hardiness can be determined. The species in order of hardiness are— 
foliosa, virginica, fulva, Abbeville red, and giganticaerulea. 
Concerning the awards mentioned in the list: The 8S. L. I. Show Winners 
are those irises having received the popularity vote of the membership in 
attendance at the annual meetings of the Society for Louisiana Irises. The 
American Iris Society gives the following: Certificate of Commendation, to 
new unintroduced seedlings judged at a show; High Commendation, to un- 
introduced seedlings worthy of introduction seen in the garden; Honorable 
Mention, to introduced iris of merit on the recommendation of five accredited 
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