AMOENAS 
Wabash is still one of the classic Iris in this limited class. Progress 
has been extremely slow and we know of no easy road to achieve the 
possibilities that this frontier in Ivis breeding still promises. Do not 
expect progress to be rapid. It is devastatingly slow, yet a challenge. 
One day we will have Iris with white standards and not only dark blue 
falls but with pink falls, brown falls, red falls and a host of colors 
like an array of cattleya Orchids. Wabash and Maytime, along with 
Extravaganza seem the most promising subjects to use, with the chil- 
dren of Wabash x Extravanza i. e. Bright Hour and Gaylord providing 
new possibilities. The advent of Pinnacle, along with its two seedlings, 
Summit and Mystic Melody, opens a new vista and avenue for de. 
velopment along with some of the two toned blue violets as Helen 
Collingwood and Lothario. Seed is quite difficult to obtain in amoena 
crossings and the germination of the few seeds one is fortunate enough 
to obtain is likewise rather meager. 
BLACKS 
In working for dark Iris always keep in mind that you should com- 
bine two parental stocks that are the darkest you have to gain 
progression. Sable and its child Indiana Night are very good sources 
of material. Our Black Forest has proven to be one of the most potent 
parents giving good selection not only to our efforts but to other 
breeders here in America as well as in Europe. Its smoothness and 
richness of color know few equals. Gulf Stream has been used with 
success it being distantly related to Black Forest, both having Dymia 
in their immediate ancestry. ‘he use of Velvet Dusk and of Down East 
with our own combinations of Black Forest, its taller sister seedling, 
have given us our notable progressions as Black Diamond, Black Castle, 
etc. Likewise Velvet Dusk, a Sable seedling, combined with our own 
darks has proven a most valuable parent. 
REDS 
The exciting progression being shown in this color is further height- 
ened by the knowledge that the ‘goal of a red Iris is not too far distant. 
The exceptional work of the two red “specialists”, Paul Cook and 
Grieg Lapham, has given us some of the finest red developments 
and material of unexcelled value as parental stock. Pacemaker is un- 
doubtedly one of the finest red parents yielding marked progression in 
three different hybridizers plots. Lights On with is valuable concen- 
tration of red genes and smooth Garden Glory should both be con- 
sidered for their high potential. Any of Paul Cook’s reds with their 
individual breeding are well worth using. We have found Orelio like- 
wise a very fine parent. Some interesting work is being done in the 
amalgamation of the reds with some of the brown-red blends as 
Casa Morena and Cordovan, or the more orange Rocket. Each line of 
development in this class has given us some significant progress. 
In your red work select smooth colored flowers and generally avoid 
parental stock that has heavy throat markings. The “smoothness of 
Garden Glory is a quality we like to look to as a standard. The in- 
BLUE SAPPHIRE 
fusion of yellow in a limited degree, two to three generations away, 
possibly can contribute to the brilliancy of these red pigmentations. 
Some breeders are experimenting with the use of orange and peach 
derivatives, like Peach Meringue, crossing these with reds then inter- 
breeding the seedlings with the thought of developing reds with less 
purple in their makeup. It is a very plausable approach tho we per- 
sonally have not worked along this line. Redwyne is a good example 
of a fine red Iris that has a good dosage of yellow a couple generations 
removed to liven up the more sombre red tones. It is likewise a 
worthy parent. 
PINKS 
There are two very distinct divisions in this color group. The 
flamingo-pinks are one of the most exciting new developments to ar- 
rive in the Iris spectrum. In your crossing of this family, of course, 
the usual mating of one flamingo with another, as Pink Formal with 
Heritage, both valuable dae will give you the very highest percent- 
age of flamingos. This family, arising from rather ‘close inbreeding, 
can stand some improvement in size and vigor and the best combina- 
tions are to combine the flamingos with the - very light blends that are 
smooth colored or some of the lighter orchids. Any Tris that has a con- 
siderable amount of yellow or white in its immediate ancestry will yield 
a high percentage of creams and yellows in the first gene1 ration. Do not 
let this discourage you. Select the best examples for habit and you will 
find a goodly percentage of flamingos appearing in the next generation. 
All the following have proven very good parents in flamingo work: 
Pink Formal, Pink Cameo, Cherie, Pink Sensation, Cherry Flip. Where 
depth of coloring is desired the latter two are giving the deepest pink 
tones. Newer Cloud Cap, Heritage and Dolly Varden are all likewise 
desirable to use, 
An offshoot of flamingo breeding has been the appearance of some 
unusual colors. For instance the variety Radiation, which is a pink with 
a slight orchid cast. It has proven a very good parent for color tho 
its stem needs improvement. Some sort of fuchsiz i-purple will likewise 
appear which when crossed back again to the flamingo coloring (hay- 
ing flamingo inheritance already) will yield a definte portion “of fla- 
mingos in the succeeding generation. 
Another divergent variation in the flamingo work is the tendency of 
some of these pinks, combined with a heavily charged yellow seedling, 
to yield apricot, buffs and oranges. Peach Meringue, Hi Time are 
two that have this color and Pink Formal shows a tendency to yield 
these colors as well. 
In the excitement over the flamingo-pink the true orchid-pink 
lavender-pinks have been overlooked. In reality their carrying power 
in the garden is one of the most valuable features. Pink Plume, Dream- 
castle, Paragon, Pathfinder, Morning Melody, Inspiration, Three Oaks 
and Gypsy Rose are all Iris that rank with the best and are excellent 
hybridizing sources for this fine material. Our 1953 introduction 
Lavanesque is a seedling of Dreamcastle and a seedling related to 
Pink Plume. 
BLENDS 
What a wonderful transition has occurred in these interestingly 
colored Iris. Unexcelled for closeup study and stunning for making 
exquisite harmonies in color in a garden study or an arrangement for 
your home. In working for blends keep in mind confining your choice 
to smooth, non- veined. parental stock and the more broadly formed 
petal types. The following varieties have all proven unusually fine par- 
ents. Chamois for soft colors and ideal smoothness of color. Golden 
Russet will never disappoint the one searching for size. Cascade 
Splendor with its charming ruffle and Rainbow Room with its dramatic 
blue blaze along with notion ruffled subject, Russet Wings, are valu- 
able in the lighter colored blends. 
While deeper in tone, the sunset colors of Sunset Blaze and the 
coppery effusions of Watchfire, a wonderful stem, and rounded Copper 
Medallion, along with rich Casa Morena, which likewise has a_ tend- 
ency to throw ruffled flowers are wonderful pigmented types. They 
can be used with reds for startling effect as well as being bred with 
some of the rose colored pinks as well. Likewise the blends may be 
combined with the medium and richer yellows for the burnished tones 
as well as orange approaches. 
Argus Pheasant and Pretty Quadroon are two very rich browns. 
They should be combined with reds as well as deep blends to help 
develop the chocolate colored class as well as make progress into the 
unsual. Both are wonderful parental stock of varied derivation. Their 
children should yield even more striking creations. 
YELLOWS 
Surely one of the finest colors for the garden. The field is relatively 
rich in potentialities. We have found that Golden Eagle has been most 
useful in the production of size. Goldbeater has given very tailored 
flowers as our own seedlings Golden Sunshine and Spotlight attest. 
Zantha, which is early, has gorgeous color . . . so rich. And the form 
and carriage of Ola Kala is quickly singled out by the initiate and 
professional as well. The richness of some of the near oranges like 
Royal and Gold Sovereign reveal there is no shortage of gold tones to 
work with. The soft yellows as Moonlight Sonata or chartreuse 
Char Maize can be combined with material that has less gold to get 
these refreshing tranquil yellows. Creams, of course, arise from the 
inter crossing of creams or the combining of whites with yellows for 
finer creams the peacemakers of the garden. 
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