HYBRIDS 
True hybrids are the result of a crossing of two distinct species within the same family of plants 
or animals. These are very often quite infertile (being mules for the most part) due to an upset 
number of chromosomes. Wm. Mohr is a classic example of a hybrid, and has been much used in 
the quest of better iris ond although it produces very few seeds it children have been notably good 
—Elmohr having won the Dykes Medal. Capitola, another seedling of Wm. Mohr having a hybrid 
as its pollen parent, is a break in that when it has pollen it is quite fertile and from it have come 
Lady Mchr, and a host of good blues and some browns and blends at the hands of Prof. Jory. Capitola, 
however, will not produce pollen under some garden conditions and usually must have good drainage 
and will have more pollen during very dry and warm weather. Joppa Parrot is a true hybrid and 
has the most potent pollen of any such hybrid we know, but it is so difficult to grow I am sure only 
those in very favored locations, or fanciers with special talents to grow the difficult, will have any 
success with it. Ib-Mac has very fertile pollen and has a strong tendency to produce the ‘‘onco”’ 
signal patch and onco-shape. It is not a vigorous or heavy blooming plant, however. We have grown 
thouscnds of seedlings with complex pedigrees involving Wm. Mohr three and four times, but for 
the most part they are strictly pogon (T.B.) in appearance and had lost ihe charm and personality 
that sets the true hybrids apart, or the quality that marks Lady Mohr as different. The hybrids from 
the exotic Oncocyclus are quite distinct from the Regelia species that are smoothly finished rather 
than intricately veined. Hybrids from the Regelias, such as Hoogiana, usually are quite fertile both 
ways. Hoogie Boy is a good pollen parent and will set pods, as will Hoogsan. The Regelia derivities 
have vigor and fast increasing qualities to pass on to tall bearded ris. 
RE-BLOOMING IRIS 
There is growing interest in this class of iris. Some of the dependable re-bloomers have come 
quite by accident while others have been plcnned for. The Sasses were among the first to produce 
ond name some of these, among them Autumn King and Autumn Queen. Dr. G. P. Brown is now 
working extensively in these, and they are becoming increasingly more dependable. They do 
require a slight dormancy period after blooming then an extra feeding and regular watering to 
insure off-season bloom. The color range is widening in these, too. Lapham has some breaks with 
tangerine beards that will add interest, alihough he is not working in this field, and I believe his 
friend Charles Wise is taking them over and has introduced several into commerce. Pink Lace has 
a strong tendency to re-bloom, as does its parent Flora Zenor. Tiffony’s children have a remontant 
tendency as witnessed by Gibson Girl and Mount Timp. Craig's Joseph's Mantle is very dependable. 
Mrs. F. Alien Brown's Western Hills, Sunset Serenade, China Maid, Priority, Ethel Peckham, White 
Alone, Radiant, and Autumn Flame are a few worthy of a place in any collection. Gay Orchid, 
Purissima, Sultan's Robe and Red Ray are all breeders to consider for this quality. And we are 
happy to introduce Mrs. Kerr’s Echo Valley and we think you will marvel, with us, at its pedigree, 
but it is as lovely as any pure tall bearded iris. Some of the dwarfs have a re-blooming tendency. 
It may be some of these may be crossed with tall bearded iris to produce a race of re-blooming 
intermediates. Speaking of Intermediates, here is a class that holds promise to any hybridizer with 
imagination and patience. Paul Cook has released some new ones and there will be others, no 
doubt. These will close the gap between the early dwarfs and the later blooming tall bearded. Some 
that prove fertile may open new vistas of color and form. 
FRAGRANCE 
It is just natural to press a lovely flower to one’s nose to catch some delicate perfume or fragrance. 
Rare are the flowers without some odor. Iris have almost as many fragrances as their colors. Some, 
however, have little or no fragrance. Iris of Ricardi, I. mesopotamica, and I. pallida blood seem 
to carry some fragrance. I’m sure every iris lover has noted the distinct grape odor found in some 
of the old-time iris, including Pallida F. Variegata. Snow Flurry has fragrance of orange blossoms, 
while Mary Colotilde has a distinctly spicy odor. Here are a few parents one might consider in a 
‘joint’ program to get fragrance coupled with beauty: Shining Waters, Song of Gold, Pink Ruffles, 
Violet Symphony, Sylvia Murray, Katherine Fay, Gloriole, Purissima, Misty Gold and, of course, 
those mentioned above. 
VIGOR 
Here is a quality we may and should consider in a long-range program. It would hardly “pay”’ 
any modern hybridizer to go back too close to 1. mesopotamica or Ricardi, for instance, due to the 
tenderness of this species. Purissima, Snow Flurry, Sensation, Gloriole and Morocco Rose are about 
as close to the tender species as we would advise fanciers to go in quest of the blood, and greater 
vigor might be assured to use more recent introductions, since hybridizers have been carefully 
mixing and blending lines to insure more vigor and winter-hardiness. We can strongly advise the 
use of Golden Eagle for vigor, fast increasing qualities, and good sized rhizomes. Sousun is very 
resistant to any kind of rot as is Pink Formal, but some of the latter’s children are not so resistant, 
due, no doubt, to I. mesopotamica blood. 
IRIS ILLS 
Almost every known form of plant or animal life is subject to some ills or diseases. While iris 
are generally quite hardy and prolific, bearded iris are subject to several kinds of rot: i.e., Leaf Spot, 
Bacterial Leaf Blight, Soft Rot, and Botritis (or winter rot). Mustard-Seed Fungus, while not a true 
form of rot is controlled by cleaning away the affected parts, being sure to destroy all the spores 
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