No Need for Summer Watering 
i 
‘The ONCOS, 
‘om a Fairytale 
(Oncos, Regelias & Oncogelias ) 
THE ARILS: These alone, of all the Iris, have seeds with Prominent white arils or collars. No matter where you 
ae voucee grow exotic Aril Iris, for they are being Successfully grown by my customers in all parts of the 
nite ates. 
geously to focus the spotlight of attention on YOUR garden, YOUR indoor arrangements, or YOUR exhibit at your 
local flower show. Also, they are simply superb for hybridizing, whether you are an amateur making your first 
Crosses, Or an experienced breeder eager to bring in exotic new blood lines. Specific uses for each of the three 
types of ARILS will be found under their respective headings. 
CULTURE and HARDINESS (In brief): When preparing for planting, select a sunny well drained spot. Mix with the 
soil, well in advance of planting, some lime, bonemeal and a little complete fertilizer or finely pulverized 
manure. Provide ridges or raised beds to insure drainage. Plant about a foot apart, and cover rhizomes about 
2 inches. In cold regions mulch bed with 2” or 3” of straw, or other light airy material (not leaves or manure). 
SHIPPING and PLANTING TIMES: Ari! rhizomes are best shipped in the late summer or fall, in a dry condition. 
But order what you want NOW, by Air Mail, before supplies are exhausted. When you receive your precious 
ARILS store them in a dry place until planting time. Plant in the fall, and not before October 1, unless Sprout- 
ing occurs earlier. They may be left in the bag of vermiculite in which they arrive but are better stored in dry 
Sand. Avoid early fall planting, as this encourages undesirable fall and winter leaf growth. Aril rhizomes are 
naturally dry and bulb-like. The rhizomes of most Arils are not large—neither are diamonds. Aril flowers vary 
greatly in size from some of the small, dainty Regelias to certain of the Oncos, which are immense. 
This year | am even including six of the much-sought ARILS among the Secret Varieties available at 
two for the price of one, as explained on page 35. Each of the six varieties has one word in the descrip- 
tion with only the final letter capitalized. Read the ARIL pages 4 to 8 very carefully and you should be 
able to find these 6 Secret Varieties so that you can ask for two of each when you order, but pay for SUSIANA—Famous Onco—$2.50; 3 for $6.25 
only one of each. Happy Hunting! 
SARI (Lupina) Wolf's Ear Iris = MN E-15” This and Gatesii are the only Oncos with SUSIANA — (Mourning Bride) This amazing Iris from the Holy Land has 
a strong greenish tinge. Falls silvery cream, heavily washed with light yellowish green. heen a sensation wherever seen. It is enchanting, wondrous, may always be counted on to 
Unlike all other Oncos, the broad beard is light yellowish-green, and there is a very promi bring forth exclamations of amazement and delight. The flower is simply enormous. Startling 
nent maroon signal spot in the very center of each fall, lower down than in most Oncos. effect is of a marvelous color symphony in silvery white and black. An abundant producer 
Style arms, distinctly greenish add to the highly unique effect. Standards silvery ream, of pollen. One of the parents of Luna and Fair Enough. Quite hardy, but may need some 
heavily flushed soft maroon. Somewhat variable in coloring, like other wild species. Leaves protection in coldest areas. If you can’t make your neighbors Oh! and Ah! with this, they’re 
sharply curved, in ram’s-horn fashion. Offers exciting possibilities for hybridizers, particu- hopeless. The enormous demand I've had for Susiana has almost exhausted all available 
larly as it possesses the extreme cold hardiness of true Alpines, and comes from a northern stocks both in this country and abroad. | have a few hundred available for early orders but 
latitude, the mountains of Turkey. Rhizomes GOMES oc oon one $2.50; 3 for $5.95 cannot tell at this early date if | will be able to import enough to last all through a sea- 
son. Many hundreds of my customers ordered Susiana too late last year after my supply was 
HAYNEI—Huge Onco—$7.95 phate? For exhibition purposes Susiana is superb. | sent it to my friend Fisher Harris 
- in Salt Lake City, in the region where cattle died of cold and snow. Susiana was grown out of doors. In spite 
of very severe winter, it bloomed finely. He entered it in the Utah Iris Society’s show. | quote below from his 
report, plus comments of other enthusiasts............0..ccceccceecce- cee. $2.50; 3 for $6.25 
“It is an understatement to say that Susiana ‘stole the show.’ We had several thousand visitors, no 
more than a dozen of whom had ever seen Susiana or any other pure Onco. The result was that she not 
only stole the show, but, at times and almost literally stopped it, for—though she was placed next to the 
Queen (for which title she was not eligible)—no one saw the poor Queen. Instead, the aisle was blocked 
by those delighted and astonished at the exotic beauty of the almost incredible Susiana. Believe it or not, 
she was a full seven inches in diameter.’ 
“T planted Susiana and it was beside the front porch and the temperature was 18° below about one 
foot above it, and it bloomed. I got such a thrill I made my mind up to have some more. I call it the 
jewel of my garden.’’ Mrs. G. R, White, Farmington, Michigan. 
2 "I have wonderful luck using Susiana as a house plant.”’ Mrs. J. C. Allison, Waddington, New 
ork. 
"I was very pleased with the Iris I received last fall. Susiana was planted outside and had a lovely 
bloom this spring—was the talk of the country.’’ Mrs. F. Foote, Duncan, British Columbia. 
HAYNEI (Hayne’s Iris) ally” An enormous, richly colored beauty from Mt. Gilboa, north of 
Jerusalem. Standards arched and gently waved, bright light mulberry. Falls bronzy crimson-black, with promi- 
nent intense mahogany-black signal. Pollen exceptionally abundant. A heavy seed-setter. Sets readily when 
crossed with various Oncos; occasionally when crossed with Regelias or Bearded Iris. Now’s hey se 
BEY ie egee A caere louie aavienc sie om INE aw Sn cigin de ca rutrnisiors wee aC ea cUn we hed Oe eisonn Selene 7.95 
NIGRICANS (Black Iris) E-12” Of all Oncos | have bloomed, this has attracted the most at- 
tention. Everyone tells his neighbor; it is not long before they appear, saying: “We heard you have a black 
Iris; may we see it?’”’ As yet no Tall Bearded Iris can compete with the Black Iris for sheer blackness; but 
after seeing this, one can visualize a tall, graceful “Lady Mohr” in stunning ebony-black. Will you be the one 
to produce it? Pollen is plentiful. | have gotten as many as 46 seeds to a pod. Standards violet-black, bright- 
ening to a glossy red-purple at center; falls dark violet-black, with a Conspicuous large black signal patch, 
the blackest I have ever seen in any flower. Beard bronzy-black. Blooms in April in its native home in the 
Moab district of Trans-Jordan, east of the Dead Sea....... 00... eceeeeeeecececeee cee cee... $7.95 
ATROPURPUREA (Crimson-Black Iris) x EEI2” One of the reddest Oncos | list. Standards 
uniform blackish crimson; falls crimson black, with large velvety jet-black signal. A smooth, deep coloring, 
not noticeably veined or dotted. Beard yellow, as is the area under it. One of the parents of Isolda and of 
other interesting hybrids. Try crossing it with Regelias or Bearded Iris. A bold, distinctive Iris, sure to com- 
mand attention. Blooms in March in the wilds near Gaza, where Samson is credited with destroying the tem- 
PierancDUrving ine MMI tNde oer eM Ae a Nae a) oe $3.25; 3 for $7.75 
TRUE ONCO COLLECTION: Gatesii, Sari and Susiana, only.................. 0.0.0.0... $8.95 
REFERENCES: See my write-up of “Suggested Judging Standards for Arils and Arilbreds” in Bul’ 130, American 
Iris Society, July 1953. Or better yet, send 50c to the American Iris Society, 3902 Hillsboro Road, Nashville 12, 
Tennessee, for a copy of the new ‘Handbook for Judges,” covering all types of Iris. 
This is World Headquarters for ARILS, and other UNUSUAL IRIS. 5 
