136 
IRIS 
By Walter Welch, Indiana 
To the ordinary gardener raising flowers 
and watching them bloom, is a routine mat- 
ter, varying little from season to season, 
except for occasionally adding some new 
variety. But to me, gardening is a series of 
adventures, exploration and experimentat- 
ion, exciting and interesting beyond the 
more repetition of former seasons. 
One of these incidents occurred when a 
lady from Iowa wrote me about a tiny 
Dwarf Iris which she found in the Lincoln 
Cemetary of Oskaloosa, Iowa. 
The report which she gave states that 
some early pioneers on their way westward. 
passing through this area, had the mis- 
fortune of losing a baby girl and that it was 
buried upon the spot. Before proceeding 
on their journey they placed a plant of 
this tiny Iris to mark the spot, much after 
the fashion of the Mohammedans who 
placed the white Iris Albicans on their graves 
all over the world. This was in the year 
1855 and this plant has survived to this 
day, almost a hundred years. 
A cemetary grew around this simple 
grave, and eventually the name of the fam- 
ily was forgotten but the tiny Iris continued 
to grow and spread, though it is reported that 
every year the caretaker mows over the 
spot, the Iris receiving no care. It now 
covers an area of about five feet in dia- 
meter, blooms abundantly every spring and is 
apparently healthy. 
Naturally, I asked my correspondant to 
procure a plant of it and ship it to me for 
identification. It is now growing in the 
Dwarf Iris Test Gardens here at Middlebury 
and I am looking forward with pleasure to 
seeing it in bloom. 
Identification of this plant will not be 
easy and perhaps impossible, as I have no re- 
cord of any Dwarf Iris variety that old. 
At first thought one would suppose it to 
be the old grandmother’s favorite, Atroviola- 
ce, but this variety is recorded as being col- 
lected in 1856 by Todaro, an Italian botan- 
ist. 
Regardless of the identity of this Iris, it 
will have much of value in many ways. In 
spite of its probable faults, it will have a 
sentimental value by association with this 
incident, and sentiment in gardening is im- 
portant. It is an example of what sort of 
Iris our forefathers loved and cultivated, 
and a yardstick to observe the improvements 
that have come since that early period. 
Certainly its stamina is something to cause 
many of our modern glamorous varieties to 
blush with shame. 
Yes, there are numerous opportunities for 
adventure and excitement in gardening, for 
the person with sentiment and imagination. 
TREE SEEDS 
Continued from Page 129 
LARIX DECIDUA (European Larch) Aust- 
Lia) BLOWN Seed .4..ae eee ee $500 Ib. 
LARIX LEPTOLEPSIS (Japanese Larch) 
JAPAN STOWN SECA ovccssccccccecsvacdessseses $5.00 Ib. 
PICEA CANADENSIS ALBA (White Spr- 
uce) Wisconsin grown seed........ $17.00 lb. 
PICEA DENSATA GLAUCA (Black Hill 
Spruce) So. Dak. grown............ $17.00 Ib. 
PICEA ABIES (Norway Spruce) Austrian 
ELTOWMN ” SCC)... ccsccssasectsssssonsnseeateneeeeeres $4.00 Ib. 
Continued on Page 140 
POPPIES TO SOW IN THE FALL 
POPPY. PAPAVER (pa-PAY-ver) Papaveraceae. : : 
Common name for the genus Papaver (pap-PAY-ver). These beautiful flowers come in 
both annuals and perennials, in a good color range, and flowers that are really gorgeous. 
Easily grown from either late fall or erly spring sown seeds, where plants are to grow. 
The annuals especially resent transplanting. : 
—alpinum. Alpine Pe Nearly stemless: white or yellow fis; 10”; HP............... POPY-2. 25¢ 
——Dractealumea | SlO0G-red pilsrs Dalry 7d cikbsa Elle eecenctvesseasevecrtevesserorsereenst aees= . POPY-10. 15¢ 
—cardinale fl. pl. Cardinal P. Double, red fis; HA............... . POPY-12. 15¢ 
—lateriteum. rBoad petalled brick-red fis; hairy; 2 ft; HP. POPY-22. 25¢ 
P. ORIENTALE: Hardy perennials with huge flowers in varied color range. The seed 
does not come entirely true but the varied colors resulting from good seed, is very inter- 
esting. Seedlings have a more robust growth than the vegetatively increased plants. 
—Beauty of Livermore. Reselected NUE CLIMSONS..........ccscssscseesecerseseseeseseeee POPY-30L. 15¢ 
— Brilliant Bright (LlOry, “OC iiicssccsvecseccssesstaatasaseetovscttecasecesse> . POPY-30B. 15¢ 
—Victoria. Beautiful salmon-pink with black blotch... . POPY-30V. 15¢ 
—Mixed. All P. orientale varieties MIKE... cescsssscessesecsseseeseeesenees perder ercepires POPY-30X. 15¢ 
P. NUDICAULE: Iceland P. Perennials to 1 ft. tall and blooming first year from seed, 
rarely lasting over 3 years, but they reseed. They flower from April to June and are 
charming in mass plantings in the border. 
—amurense. Showy butter-cup fis; fl stems to 2 ft; HP. eeeecessesseeeeeeeee POPY-28A. 15¢ 
—Coonara Pink. Gorgeous rose tints, soft pink to deep rose 18”; HP.... POPY-28C. 15¢ 
—El Monte. A new beautiful deep tangerine-orange, fringed; HP............. POPY-28E. 15¢ 
—Imperial Jewels. A new strong stemmed strain in gorgeous colors; HP.. POPY-28J. 15¢ 
—Gartford Giants. Crinkly petals, ideal cut fl if cut in bud; 2-3 ft... . POPY-28F. 15¢ 
—Gibson Giants. Lovely orange, Huge flOWETS.u.......c cc eeeccsseseseescenseenscenseesseses . POPY-28G. 20¢ 
—Kelmscott Strain. Huge fis 3’ ac; very pretty colors; 2-3 ft... POPY-28K. 20¢ 
—Sanford’s Giants. Immense fis on stiff stems; veried color range............ POPY-28S. 15¢ 
—The Empress. Huge salmon-rose and Pink flS.i.eecccecscseseenceseesecteereeseceseeeseeee POPY-28M. 15¢ 
—Iceland Poppies Mixed. A truly gorgeous blend................ Y2 oz. 40¢ .... POPY-28X. 15¢ 
P. Rhoeas: Shirley Poppy. They have been highly improved and come in many colors 
with crinkly petals. Sow late in the fall in the South. Hardy annuals to 3 ft. tall. 
—American Legion. Dazzling orange-scarlet with black mark.............000 POPY-38A. 15¢ 
—Cavalcade. Double Begonia-fl; rich orange-scarlet; huge; 2 ft . POPY-38C. 15¢..., 
—Dazzler. Double orange-scarlet; DEAUtEUL........cc.sscesccccecscosecssccocersecsosssassnseoasessee POPY-38D. 15¢ 
—Gaiety. White with pink edge, ShOWY And Gainty..........crececsersercrererrerereesereees POPY-38G. 15¢ 
—Ryburgh Hybrids. Do Anemone-fl satiny shades of white, pink,rose.... POPY-38R. 15¢' 
—Orange King. Beautiful deep orange...........ccccccee - 15¢ 
- 1S¢ 
—Rev. Wilk’s Strain. Single fis in beautiful colo ise 
—Salmon Shades. MWerrya DYVOULYznccrseastees teasvees epeoony et 
—Sweet Briar. Double Begonia-fl, pretty wild rose . 15¢ 
—Shirley Poppy Blend. All colors and types mixed . 15¢ 
—Double Shirley Blend. Double varieties ONLY... eeeeceseeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees . 15¢ 
POLYGALA. (poh-LIG-ah-lah) MILKWORT. Polygalaceae. F : 
Most are tender annuals and perennials; grown under glass in N. Plant in light soil. 
and partial shade. A few are natives of N. America. 
——apopetala, safe; pinks se oemacr Ottis IMs Cals, Sli, ccrsccsesscsecoscerstestecsvecesusersvescteass2 POLG-4. 25¢ 
POLYGONUM. (poh-LIG-oh-num) KNOT-WEED, FLEESE FLOWER. Polygonaceae. 
A large genus of annual and perennial greenhouse and hardy plants, variable in habits. 
Easy to grow; plant annuals in open ground early. 
—amplexicaule. Pretty; spikes of small rose-pink, white fis; 3-4 ft; HP.... POLY-4. 25¢ 
SON OL a es eice eases cea reeai tac ae eter ensaeae Tn descen er acass vas sci unadehvavusstusen ius snv'esssdes ceeesivnnansiatveceussvacesseswsxsoaeeuen POLY-II1. 20¢ 
—orientale, Rubin. Interesting cut fl or border plant; red fis; 142 ft; HA.... POLY-15. 15¢ 
SYN CLO PI VLU gees centres cone ceakserveeeneasraveeteevceecstsastsieacatenvacteraissiescesvadsvessosteesdvessutavsicvaiuine dasediavace POLY-12. 15¢ 
—mollis. Sh’by; panicles of white fls; will grow in moist places; 3 ft HB.... POLY-13. 25¢ 
Polygonum SMixiurer (Alt SpeCies’ MTX iiic cscetsccccoesccest¢hsccovcesosserevesovescavdoastaseseosse POLY-X. 15¢ 
POLYPTERIS. (pol-LIP-ter-iss) OTHAKE. Compositae. 
Erect plants with rose-purple or flesh colored, radiate heads in loose panicles. 
—Hookeriana. Fl heads 1” ac; rays rose-red; pretty cut flowef.........eeceeeeees POLP-l. 15¢ 
PORTULACA. (port-yew-LAY-kuh) MOSS ROSE, PURSLANE. Portulacaceae. 
Perennials but usually treated as hardy annuals in the North. They are low growing 
fleshy stemmed plants having brilliant large showy flowers in many bright colors. They 
are sun loving plants and do fine in the hottest spots, where other flowers would die. 
Sow seeds in April, where they are to grow; 2-3 inches tall. They make pretty beds. 
—grandiflorum fl. pl. Moss Rose. Double fl form; rose, red, yellow, white PORT-1DX. 20¢ 
—-—Single Mixed. Showy single fis; large petals.......cccccccessesesccssscesscceesecesecees PORT-I1SX. 15¢ 
—-—Single Jewels. Bright glistening wide open fis; beautiful strain. PORT-1J. 15¢ 
—=POrilacaw 5 1end ween Ue LINCS IMEC nesses eccsemeasartessson stcocnterencss rine ccttoysenstieteseneen eee PORT-1X. 15¢ 
PRIMULA. (PRIM-u-la) PRIMROSE. Primulaceae. 
= AUTIC WA eet yaCOlOLS sme alGs Ui pels) Olins  E1P nee ee ela PRIM-10. 25¢ 
—Bulleyana. Deep yellow fis 1” ac; whorls; 2% ft; HP . 35¢ 
—burmanica. Reddish purple fils with orange eye, 14” 25¢ 
—candelabara Hybrids. Deep rich colors, purple, crimson to yellow; HP... PRIM-18. 35¢ 
—Cockburniana. Orange fis 1” ac; umbels; summer; 11% ft; HP................... PRIM-28. 35¢ 
—denticulata. Dense heads of violet fis, early spring; 10”; HP................... PRIM-40. 20¢ 
—-—cashmiriana. More farinose, rich purple fis with yellow centers; HP.. PRIM-40C. 35¢ 
este PRIM-40R. 25¢ 
. PRIM-45A(C). 30 
—Florindae. Sulphur-yellow fis, drooping, in terminal umbels; 4 ft: HP... PRIM Se, 35¢ 
—glancescens v. calycina. More robust, larger fis; rose to pur; 5”; HP PRIM-6 . 
—-—WMixed. Many kinds of this pretty species......................... 4 = derssvanenencueeeaes PRIN Ge 258 
. PRIM-85E. 35¢ 
i . PRIM-85W. 
—kewensis. Bright yellow fragrant fls; umbels; grow under glass; TP2 PRIM 89. 356 
—Kingii. %..’ scarlet fis; umbels; 8’ inches; HP..ww...cccsssssssssccsssssccssssecsccceoscsccce PRIM-90. 35¢ 
—pulverulenta. 1’ fis, purple with orange-brown eye; umbels; 8 in...;HP PRIM-131. 40¢ 
PRIM-134S(C). 30¢ 
nvecrentetEese PRIM-144, 40¢ 
PRIM-173C(C). 30¢ 
.. PRIM-173A(C). 30¢ 
Benasendgeds sasncnneestorattine PRIM-X. 30¢ 
DIMONDALE MICHIGAN 
—vulgaris v. corrulea. (acaulis) Dark blue 114 
PIONEER SEED COMPANY 
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