Plant Arils For Least Work 
Exotic AIRVE I 
It’s Time To Become Acquainted Wit 
World’s Most Comp 
he Hardy ARILS, Namely 
rehensive Offerings in ARIL IRIS 
Famed Orchid-Iris of Palestine 
AUTHENTICITY: In view of recent and frequent loose and incorrect use of the term “‘Onco’’, | feel that | must em- 
phasize that these offerings are the GENUINE PURE ONCO SPECIES DIRECT FROM THE HOLY LAND—not 
hybrids with other Iris and containing only a portion of Onco blood, such as are sometimes falsely offered as 
“Oncos"’ to the unsuspecting. So if you want real Oncos, make SURE that is what you get. So far, practically all 
are wild species: not named hybrids. Most of the following are EXCLUSIVE OFFERINGS not elsewhere available 
on this continent. is 
USES: Since a number of the Oncos have gigantic globular flowers of striking form and coloring, they are the 
most sensational of all ARILS, and all Iris, for garden features, indoor decoration, flower shows and hybridizing. 
BLOOMING TIME: Start a month before Tall Bearded; end early in Tall Bearded season. 
NATIVE HABITAT, IMPORTATION and HYBRIDIZING: In the three centuries since the landing of the Pil- 
grims, the Western World has never had an opportunity to become acquainted with the wealth of diverse and 
fascinating species of Oncocyclus Iris that occur in various parts of PALESTINE and surrounding countries. 
Recent Bulletins of the American Iris Society (particularly Jan. '51) point strongly to the rapidly spreading interest 
in hybridizing Oncos and their derivatives. These bulletins also make boldly evident that, even today, most 
hybridizers still do not have available any appreciable number of true Onco species, and have had to work largely 
through William Mohr and other Oncobreds in their attempts to secure the Onco characteristics so much desired. 
Thus they leave to us, the adventurous of the clan, the real thrills of making various FRESH starts by crossing 
many different Onco species DIRECTLY with the finest of today’s Tall Bearded lris—varieties so superb that 
they were hardly even dreamed of way back in 1925 when William Mohr was created. Consequently, during the 
last few years, | have devoted much time and effort, and no little expense, to the DIRECT AIR IMPORTATION 
of all possible true Onco species. My collection has reached over 30 species and natural varieties. See my Manual 
(pages 35 and 36) for many suggestions on hybridizing with Oncos. 
CULTURE: Oncos are the most exacting of ARILS in requiring the treatment outlined above, but ara most reward- 
ing of all when properly grown. No other Iris have the appeal of true Oncos. 
ON GATSEI! and SARI, Due To 
A most unexpected and fortunate opportunity arose last summer to arrange with a 
collector to visit remote mountain portions of Turkey to collect for me quite large stocks 
of those wonderful Oncos, GATESII and SARI. My confidence in the value of these rare 
species and in the American Iris lovers’ desire to satisfy the long-felt need for them, 
caused me to invest a thousand dollars in this expedition. As a result, | now have the 
world’s largest stocks and can offer Gatesii at $7.95 instead of my 1953 price of $12.50; 
and Sari at $4.95 instead of $10.00. At these prices my stocks are likely to go very 
rapidly and | may be so very short this fall that | will have to materially raise the 
price again for 1955. The time to get stocked up on these is NOW, while | have them 
in relative abundance, at these special LOW 1954 prices. 
sis Z 
GATESII (Onco)—Coveted by every hybridizer—$7.95 
— GATESII —- 
MY GREAT FEATURE OFFERING FOR 1954 xxx 
This Year Reduced to 
It is with great satisfaction that | am at last able, after years of effort, to offer this re- 
SEE EKTACHROME 
While They Last 
As every hybridizer knows, the whole far-flung 
nowned rarity that is today the most sought of all Oncos. It has been wholly unavailable 
in this country for the past 25 years, since the time when the famous Onco-bred ‘‘William 
Mohr’’ was produced. | had expected to have to charge $35.00 for Gatesii when | first 
imported it, but unexpectedly favorable import conditions make it possible for me to offer 
it this year way below even the $12.50 price at which | offered it last year. 
Dykes states that with the possible exception of some Japanese Hybrids, Gatesii produces 
larger flowers than those of any other Iris. | find it considerably larger than the giant 
Susiana. A symphony of color, with silvery standards lined and dotted soft violet: falls 
olive cream finely netted and dotted in violet. Beard purplish bronze, very broad and diffuse, 
the largest found in any Iris, sometimes 1%” wide and 3” long, occasionally extending half 
way down the immense falls. | find that the form, color, beard, etc., are quite variable, as is 
customary with wild species. Many interesting types are expected in this new stock which 
is largely freshly imported, and hence as yet unbloomed in this country. 
Native in the mountains of Turkey, much farther north than most Oncos, so is hardier, 
easier to grow. While the usual height is somewhat less, some of the plants of my strain of 
of Gatesii have grown to a height of 33”, which is most remarkable for any Onco. 
Probably the latest bloomer of all Oncos, coinciding with the early and midseason Tall 
Bearded, a condition that makes it ideal for both ambitious hybridizers and exhibitors. At 
any show it will be the center of attraction for all present, as not one flower lover ina million 
has ever seen Gatesii. 
From the hybridizer’s viewpoint Gatesii is wholly unsurpassed. My natural-color Ekta- 
chrome shows clearly the extremely broad standards and falls, often over 4” wide. The 
hafts in front of the style crests are usually a full 3” wide, sometimes more. There has 
never been a Tall Bearded Iris that can even approach this as most of the latest intro- 
ductions do well to reach 2” in width of haft. It is the dream of every hybridist to transfer 
this superb form to a tall vigorous new Oncobred with beautiful Onco veinings and large 
bold signal patch. Why not be the first to accomplish this? We all start together, now that 
Gatesii is available again. A great seed-setter; produces quantities of pollen. | suggest Air 
Mail for all orders for Gatesii, as you would not want your order to reach me after my stock 
is all sold. One rhisome of Parisiana FREE on request with each Gatesii; see ‘““HYBRID- 
IZERS’ OPPORTUNITY”’ at right. E-20”. 
"My last year’s order included the ‘one and only’ Susiana, which ‘took’ the flower show 
here. Apparently this was the pe one known here—the most beautiful Iris I have ever seen,” 
Mrs. W. W. Scarborough, Dallas, Texas. 
Mohr family of fascinating hybrids springs from the world-famous William Mohr. This came 
from the diploid Tall Bearded variety PARISIANA x the Onco GATESII. While in time it 
may be found that many diploid and tetraploid bearded Iris will cross with Gatesii, such 
crosses are likely to be difficult, and the quickest approach is to start with the cross that 
has been found to succeed, and that resulted in William Mohr. This one hybrid does not 
begin to tap the untold possibilities from this most promising of all crosses of Bearded 
Iris and Oncos. William Mohr is nearly sterile, and if some enterprising hybridizer succeeds 
in creating an Oncobred like William Mohr but highly fertile, it will expedite future Onco- 
bred breeding tremendously. Hence | offer FREE on request, with every rhizome of 
GATESII, a complimentary rhizome of the original PARISIANA, so that hybridizers 
throughout the world who have been wishing for years for the opportunity to repeat this 
most famous of all Iris crosses, can at last realize this ambition. Parisiana Is not offered 
by itself this year, in order that | may conserve my limited stock for this special combina- 
tion offer. Obviously, the time to order is NOW. 
GATESII 
This is the king! a giant of renown 
With broad, bronze beard, and with a turbaned head 
Where ruffled standards rig a royal crown; 
Their silver depths and violet dots are wed. 
The violet netted falls are olive cream... 
In all, Gatesii is a teasing dream. 
Hail, gay Gatesii! from this lineage came 
The mighty Mohrs, the charming Lady Mohr— 
A signal beauty setting hearts a-flame! 
And, from this great king, much is yet in store. 
When these Gatesii hybrids are unfurled 
It is the monarch of a magic world. 
—George Nicholas Rees 
Ay : 
WORLD’S RAREST and FINEST ONCOS 
NAZARENA—The one supreme Onco, my favorite of them all $35.00 
Standards white, with faintest of lavender veins, Falls yellow-cream, heavily covered with raised dots 
of dark chocolate brown. Signal patch intensely black. Haft of falls often 3” wide. VE-10”. 
AURANITICA—Unique among Oncos. Buff-yellow, with the appearance of real glistening gold. $35.00 
LORTETII—Described by Dykes as most beautiful of all Iris. : aze.te 
Magnificent orchid-pink globe, dark crimson signal. E-12". 
CALCARIA—White, flushed lilac, and greyish cream dotted chocolate. $20.00 
“Flowers belong to fairyland; the flowers, the birds and the butterflies are all that the world has kept of its gold = 
4 the only perfectly beautiful things on earth.” —OQUIDA 0 Oe OD 
