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10. PURISSIMA. This superb Californian variety, a veritable queen, would have been in my first list (above) if it were not for the fact that some growers consider it tender in England. Its conduct in this garden has been exemplary, planted as it is in a position sheltered from north and east winds in soil lightened with sand. Its grave, statuesque beauty justifies this little extra care. It is early flowering, in fact in most years it is the first of the tall, bearded, May-June Irises to flower, only yielding in some years to HARMONY. The stems run to 5 feet in height and the branching is excellent. The flowers, which have a slight bluey tint at first, are perfect in form and are noticeably lasting,
11. G. P. BAKER. Standards yellow, falls a lighter whitish-yellow. It makes a noteworthy clump in a short time, the increase is very rapid and the blooming profuse, my only reason for not including it in my first list being the weakness of the colouring. If the falls were a good solid, self-yellow, it would have found a place in the first list. Anyhow it gives a multitude of flowers on 4 ft. 3 in. Stems.
12. EVOLUTION. Brown standards, falls electric blue with brown edges. I remember the first time this was exhibited at an Iris Society's Show -- I was continually going back to gaze on it again. There was no other of its colour in existence then, now there are several of its progeny which are "following in father's footsteps," my favourite among them being Spender's PROEM. It is a good increaser and a consistent bloomer. Its constitution is good. Height 3 feet.
13. DAUNTLESS. This American earns its place as a fine example of the red-toned Irises. A good doer, satisfactory increaser, shapely and a good parent. The colour is a velvety pansy-purple with an undertone of brown, the falls margined lighter. Height 3 ft. 9 in.
14. CONSTANCE MEYER. An extremely floriferous and very useful "pink" variety. It is so free flowering that it has a tendency to flower itself to death, but it makes so many new rhizomes each year that probably the best method of growing it is to make a new clump annually with the baby rhizomes and discard the first planting after its third year of flowering. The stem (3 ft. 6 in.) is slender.
15. SUSAN Buss. A "pink" which must be considered "old" as Irises are old. Its best points are freedom of flowering and increase, shapeliness of bloom and cleanness of colour. The branching is fairly good and the fact that it comes quite late in the season (with Ambassadeur, Shah Jehan, etc.) is a recommendation. About 3 ft. 3 in. in height.
16. LABOR. The cognoscenti will probably be surprised to see this name if they do me the honour of glancing at this list. Its self-colouring (violet, suffused bronze), however, marks it out in the Iris garden and justifies inclusion in a first Thirty. LABOR is not a large flower, and the stems (2 ft. 6 in.) are shorter than any variety which I have mentioned yet, but it is an Iris to love and I should miss it if I lost it. Several times it has been picked out for admiration by visitors.
17. KING JUBA. Standards old gold, falls dark, brilliant dahlia carmine. As we must have at least one variegata in our Thirty, KING JUBA is the most likely of the candidates among the cheaper varieties. Its very brilliant colouring ensures it being singled out in the garden, and a good-sized clump is certainly a striking sight. Its floriferousness and a good annual increase are definite points in its favour. Average height is 3 ft. 3 in.
18. ALINE. This is a gentle beauty and must not be omitted from our Thirty, a lovely pure light blue self which gets at our hearts while we gaze at it. Its rapid increase and good proportions are recommendations. I wish its blooms were longer lived. It has "caught on" in the States. Height 3 ft. 3 in.
19. BRUNO. Time was when BRUNO stood practically at the top of the tall bearded Irises. Its massive brown flowers are a wee bit sombre but it is a wonderful foil to the lighter coloured varieties, and as its increase, form, poise and dependability are excellent it will not be grudged its place among the Thirty. The standards are bronze and the falls may be particularised as maroon-purple. Height 3 ft. 6 in.
20. DOLLY MADISON. This variety was hailed in the States as
good enough to justify the grant of a Government pension to its
raiser! It appears to have fallen from that pedestal now, but
it is a striking and beautiful blend. The standards are mauve
with yellow base, the flaring falls are lilac, tinged gold and
veined at the base with maroon. The orange beard is prominent.
Height 3 feet. I am not quite certain that it is a good doer.
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