PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Please Read 
The present listing of Japanese iris comprises varieties 
exclusively of my own origination. The introductions offered 
represent the result of many years of concentrated effort di- 
rected to the development of a distinctive, truly original strain 
possessing the more desirable characteristics of plant and flower. 
and also one better adapted to our garden requirements and 
climatic conditions here in America; consequently, these offer- 
ings have received more than usual care in testing and selection. 
Growing conditions here in the midwest being not the most 
favorable for Japanese iris, the result is a strain possess- 
ing a somewhat more rugged constitution. To attain maximum 
results in these hybridizing experiments, the various related 
activities are carried on entirely by myself and necessarily are 
confined to the more essential details, with production 
consequently limited. Therefore I do not offer seed for grow- 
ing, as seed production here is solely from the most pain- 
staking methods and no surplus is available for this purpose. 
The wide variety of flower forms, the range of colors and 
the various color patterns inherent in Japanese iris are rather 
well represented in these offerings. To merit a listing here. a 
variety must possess a definite personality of its own, a certain 
spark of distinction other than size which sets it apart from 
the general run of existing varieties. I freely recommend each 
variety as beautiful; and all have proved superior growers 
here in my own garden. They have been rigorously tested over 
several years; their characters have become fixed, and their 
merits definitely established before release for distribution. 
Each variety possesses pleasing form, live coloring, more than 
usual refinement, and superior garden qualities; and I have 
reason to believe all varieties listed here will compare favor- 
ably in every respect with the more desirable clones available 
elsewhere. I have every assurance that, when reasonably 
well grown, they will not disappoint the more discriminating 
iris enthusiast. Introductions listed for the first time here are 
distinctly different from my previous offerings and I have the 
utmost confidence their merits will equal those heretofore 
offered. Varietal descriptions have been taken directly from 
typical specimens and are accurate in every detail; however, 
those unfamiliar with Japanese iris probably will be unable 
to visualize varieties from the following pages. Flower colors 
noted have been determined by comparison with Ridgeway’s 
“Color Standards and Nomenclature.” Inasmuch as_ flower 
measurements of Japanese iris are necessarily inaccurate and, 
due to their varying forms, definitely misleading, a statement 
of relative size seems the more satisfactory, though it conveys 
little to other than experienced growers. Notations of plant 
height are from actual measurements of plants grown here and 
naturally will vary under other conditions. As far as possible 
to determine from extensive trials prices have been arranged 
according to relative merit of varieties, and neither the 
supply of stock nor rate of increase has been a factor in 
establishing their prices. The higher prices in general also 
indicate yarieties of later development. 
