JOIN THE AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY 
Every one interested in growing Iris should join the American Iris Society. The 
four bulletins each year keep you up to date on new varieties, Iris culture, hybridizing, 
etc. Dues are $4.00 yearly. You may send your order directly to — 
THE AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY 
3902 Hillsburo Road 
Nashville 12, Tennesee 
Or we will gladly send your membership in for you, and if included with a $5.08 
Iris order will give you $2.50 worth of Iris — in addition to the extra 25% mentioned 
before. For $9.00, you get a membership in the A.I.S. and $8.75 in Iris! 
This offer expires July Ist. 
DYKES MEDAL WINNERS 
The Dykes Medal is the highest award an Iris can receive. To be eligible an 
Iris must have first received Honorable Mention (HM) and also the Award of Merit 
(AM) from the American Iris Society. 
SEE THEM IN OUR GARDEN 
1935—Sierra Blue 1945—Elmohr 
1936—Mary Geddes 1946—No Award (Daybreak 
1937—Missouri and Ola Kala tied.) 
1938—Copper Lustre 1947—Chivalry 
1939—Rosy Wings 1948—Ola Kala 
1940—Wabash 1949—Helen McGregor 
1941—The Red Douglas 1950—Blue Rythm 
1942—Great Lakes 1951—Cherie 
1943—Prairie Sunset 1952—Argus Pheasant 
1944—Spun Gold 1953—Truly Yours 
IRIS PLANTING AND CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
WHEN TO PLANT. For best results plant June through September. Early planting 
establishes the new Iris plants before winter. This is the time to reset clumps of 
Iris that are crowded, generally clumps 3 to 4 years old. 
WHERE TO PLANT. The ideal location for your Iris is a sunny, well drained position. 
Sunshine at a minimum half days; Iris will not do well in the deep shade. No water 
should stand in your Iris beds. Raise beds slightly above the level of your garden 
paths if necessary. 
DEPTH TO PLANT. Place your rhizomes just below the surface of the ground with 
the roots well spread out underneath so the rhizome is within reach of the warmth of 
the sun’s rays while the roots beneath are in moist (not soggy) soil. Be sure to firm 
the soil tightly around each rhizome when planting. Follow ordinary good garden 
practice of watering and setting soil on newly set plants, of course. 
DISTANCE APART. Depends on your particular plans. Generally Iris are planted 
from eight inches to two feet apart. Closer plants are for immediate effect and will 
need thinning sooner. Plant three of a kind to give an immediate clump effect, in a 
triangle with the toes of the rhizomes pointing inward. Place eight inches apart. 
Planted two feet or more apart they may be left for longer period of time. 
FERTILIZATION. Iris will thrive without feeding but will respond to its application. 
In the matter of fertilizers, garden sense should be used in liberal quantity. In the 
preparation of your new Iris bed, spade in a good application of compost below the 
roots. Then an application of a well balanced fertilizer applied as a top dressing 
dusted around and in between the plants in early spring or very late fall is desirable. 
Steamed bone meal and super-phosphate are fine top dressing materials. 
CULTIVATING. Do it shallowly. Iris feeding roots are very near the surface. Keep 
your Iris free of weeds and do not allow neighboring plants to encroach upon them. 
Remember, they should have sunlight right down to the rhizome. Remove the outer 
leaves as they begin to brown. At all times keep litter, old Iris leaves, grasses, 
etc., away from the rhizomes. Clean cultivation is the finest precaution for Iria 
troubles. 
