WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD IRIS 
_ For the benefit of those who are newly interesting themselves in 
Iris, we repeat the following brief commentary on the qualities con- 
sidered desirable in these flowers. 
Color, although the most important and most instantly appreciated 
quality, is not, by itself, the final measure of iris worth. Besides clarity 
or richness of color we want a bloom with good form and broad 
petals, the standards firm and held in closed position at the top, or 
nearly so, and in pleasing proportion to the falls, which may flare or 
droop, but which should not be strappy, narrow-waisted or pinched. 
The bloom should be large enough to match the length of stem, 
which for tall bearded iris should be thirty inches or more. A small 
flower on a tall stem looks “leggy” and a huge flower on a short stem 
looks “dumpy.” 
There are some exceptions to the thirty-inch minimum require- 
ment. These are now termed “border irises.” 
Stems should be branched so that the flowers do not crowd, and 
they should be strong enough to resist drooping from the weight of 
the flowers or toppling because of wind or weather. The texture of 
Culture of IRIS and 
These flowers are among the easiest of all for the unskilled gar- 
dener to grow to perfection. In addition to their indescribably beau- 
tiful flowers they yield generous and ever-continuing dividends in the 
form of increase. 
With each shipment of plants we enclose a leaflet giving the simple 
instructions for their planting and care. You will not need to be born 
with a green thumb nor stir up any witches’ brew for spraying or 
fertilizing to have a beautiful garden. 
YOU CAN LEARN A LOT about the culture and the progress 
of irises and daylilies and, at the same time help to promote their 
PLANTS AS GIFTS 
Those who have had the happy inspiration of giving 
plants, when the occasion called for a remembrance, know 
that nothing else they could devise, would serve so 
admirably for this purpose. For a flowering plant is a 
living thing, a remembrance whose recurrent display of 
delicate and refined beauty is a constant reminder of the 
giver’s thoughtfulness and a sure way of keeping the 
memory green. 
We are always happy to serve as the intermediary 
in executing orders intended for gifts, and send a print- 
ed card to the donee, when requested, announcing that 
we have been authorized by the donor to ship the plants 
at the proper planting time. They can also be accom- 
panied by the donor’s card, sent to us for that purpose, 
if no message is enclosed so that postal regulations will 
not be violated. It is not practical to time shipments for 
any dead-line dates but if your order is received in time 
it will be scheduled for shipment as nearly as possible 
in conformity with your wishes. 
The map at right shows our central location which 
enables us to supply you with freshly-dug plants 
which will find themselves “at home” in your gar- 
den and will not need an extra year for acclimatiza- 
tion before blooming. The circle is drawn on a 600- 
mile radius, hardly more than a day’s drive. 
the petals is important too, and the substance should be tough and 
durable enough to withstand sun and wind and remain fresh-looking 
for a reasonable length of time. Colors should not fade too easily 
in the sun, nor spot too readily from drops of moisture. 
The base or “haft” of the fall should not be discordantly colored 
or covered with coarse and ugly veining. When smoothly colored it 
is sometimes called a “quiet” or a “clean” haft. 
Some irises are temperamental. ‘To be generally acceptable an iris 
should perform well in different sections of the country and be winter- 
hardy. Unfortunately, some of the loveliest sorts originating in Cali- 
fornia are not hardy in Northern winters and some of the most beau- 
tiful varieties of the Middle West and East are complete failures in 
California. Quite frequently rhizomes from regions of wide seasonal 
differences will require time to adjust themselves before blooming. 
Rhizomes which are well grown will be more likely to bloom the 
first year than those which are not well-grown because the bloom-stalk 
buds are formed during the previous growing season. 
HEMEROCALLIS 
further development, by joining these non-profit, mutually helpful 
societies: 
AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY, Geddes Douglas, Secy., Franklin Road, 
Brentwood, Tennessee. Publications—4 Quarterly Bulletins of over 
100 pages each. Dues, $4.00 per year, 3 years for $10.50. 
THE HEMEROCALLIS SOCIETY, Geo. E. Lenington, Secy., Box 
139, Kansas City 10, Mo. Publications—Yearbook, chock full of in- 
teresting information about daylilies. Dues, $3.00 per year. 
Mail your dues direct to the above addresses, or if you prefer you 
may include them with your order and we will forward. 
1958 Edeuwald Vutroductiou 
ACCENT—(W. E. Buss, 1953) M.46”. Although there are several ex- 
cellent blended variegatas, there are scarcely any of the distinctly 
bicolored types that have kept pace with the progress so notable in 
irises of other colors. Personally. we know of only one, other than 
ACCENT, that will stand critical appraisal. That one is Staten 
Island. ACCENT is distinct in that its coloring is more agreeable 
and less strident than is common among variegatas. The yellow 
standards are clean in a light medium tone, the falls are rose-red 
rather than brown-red, and the combination is very pleasing. The 
hafts are quiet, the flower is large and well-formed. A clump of 
ACCENT is an eye-catching sight. The agreeably contrasting colors, 
the tall stature and the inherently vigorous nature of this winter- 
hardy and dependable introduction, suggested the name most ap- 
propriate to its use in the garden picture, ACCENT. ...... $15.00 
