Dear Iris Friends: Greetings - 1935 
: : i these 
It doesn’t seem possible, that another year has passed since we last met on 
pages, for as I Seite I can look through the window at what might Aces wee ve sak 
same snow that was present at last years writing and nothing seems c anged. Yet in 
retrospect so much has happened that in a way It seems as ie far more than one year 
has passed. First is the vivid memory of the many gardens visited last season where 
literally scores of new varieties and hundreds of seedlings were seen and enjoyed. 
Many of those seen you will find listed this year and many more we are growlng for 
further observation and propagation. Then there was the ever new thrill of the first 
year bloom on my own seedlings and the new named varieties and guests that we 
hadn’t as yet seen. These were doubly enjoyed as visitors from previous years returned 
for the new season and so many other iris fans with whom 1! had corresponded but 
hadn’t met kept showing up in person that the season soon turned into a triple header 
of Iris Time, Old Home and Get Acquainted week. And what is better than a group of 
fans getting together over the iris in discussion, ; 
Too, there was the task we set ourselves of procuring some slides good enough to 
use for color plates. This, we thought, would be easy so we got at it at once, only to 
find that it wasn’t so easy to satisfy the printer after all. So before the season was over 
it was one of those things where everybody got in on the act including visitors and even 
a few local professionals. Finally a few slides were decided upon and while we haven’t 
as yet seen them we hope the resultant plates turn out well and that you enjoy them. 
Last, but certainly not least was the replanting we did last season. For those of 
you who can visit us this year—and I hope there will be more than ever, we have pre- 
pared some interesting new exhibits. One part of the garden we converted into hillside 
terraces, one terrace being given over to the work of each hybridizer. For example, on 
one you will find the complete work of Mrs. Whiting, on another that of Henry Sass. 
There is a terrace each for the work of Robert Schreiner, Fred DeForest, David Hall, 
Tell Muhlestein and one for the work of each of the other major hybridists. Other 
terraces are composites of the work of many of the newer hybridizers. While as a whole 
this project is not yet complete, many of the individual terraces are, even to their 
containing future introductions and guest seedlings. 
Among the things we hope to show are the lovely new; 1952 series from Henry 
Sass, many new Whiting varieties, Tell Muhlestein’s new pinks and orange seedlings 
from the pink lines, Judge Guy Rogers’ lovely white Senorita Ilsa and many more as 
well as several thousand of our own new seedlings and selections. 
As to this year’s catalogue, we are making several*changes beside that of adding 
some color plates. We are using a new’type print as well as a different type of paper 
and we think you will,like the new combination. Due to requests We are inserting the 
parentage of all ‘varieties listed and the whole of the article on Hybridizine Hints is 
being reprinted as~fequests have now exceeded our supply of excess 51 and 52 cata- 
logues. Since I now have the aid of a brother in the business I hope to be able to be of 
more help to you than in the past in adding anything I can to your own breeding plans 
or work, so please feel free to ask what you like for your letters will be welcome. 
And now as we move foreward into this new season, may I once again say thanks 
for your generous patronage and valued friendship. May you have in this new year 
only the best and may you walk hand in hand with health and happiness. 
Sincerely, 
CHET TOMPKINS 
TERMS—Cash with order. Check draft or money order. 
POSTAGE PAID—On all orders of $3.00 or more. With orders for less, add 35¢c for postage. 
Residents of Iowa please add 2% sales tax. ; 
SHIPMENT—Will be made on iris orders beginning July 1st and will continue until mid October. 
Hemerocallis orders will be shipped in mid August and September until late fall. 
BXTRAS—There are no discounts on yarietiés marked NET. On orders of $10.00 or more, you 
may add 33 1/3% of the value of the order as your extras but to this list of extras please add several 
alternates as we may be short of stock on some items. On orders for less than $10.00 please suggest 
some extras you would like and if possible we will choose from your list or send some similar variety 
we may consider better. : 
We guarantee healthy stock, true to name. If plants do not arrive in good condition return them 
to us at once and we will make restitution by supplying fresh plants or a refund, whichever we deem 
best. Any errors will be corrected at onee. 
THE AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY— 
Membership to the society will bring you four very fine bulletins each year. You will find every 
bulletin simply packed with articles on Hybridizing, Iris Culture, Planting, Varietal Comments, 
Questions and Answers and accounts of various gardens and the activities of the different regions. 
Dues are $4.00 per year. You may mail your checks to The American Iris Society, Franklin Road, 
Brentwood, Tenn. or you may mail the dues to us and we will make your remittance. 
CATALOGUE TERMS 
®.—Harly VL.—Very late A.M.—Award of Merit 
M.—Midseason Sib.—Sister seedling D.M.—-Dykes Medal 
M.L.—Midseason to late H.C.—High Commendation 
L.—Late H.M.—Honorable Mention 
te) Ramey Hey 
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