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CONCLUSION.
....My experience with Irises
has been gained in three gardens. Of course that is nothing compared
with that of other growers such as B. R. Long, but there was sufficient
difference between the three soils to give me some useful standards
of comparison. The first garden was a medium heavy loam of considerable
depth, the site of a former market garden, sheltered from north
and east winds by the huge oaks of Richmond Park, and rather inclined
to gather damp and moss in the winter. The second was a heavy,
sticky soil, which held water seemingly everlastingly, and so
"clingy" that it was really hard work to dig up a clump
of Irises, but what rhizomes and foliage! The third (my present)
garden has a good top soil but this is only one spit in depth,
the subsoil being an infertile kind of brick earth. Fruit trees
and bulbs flourish amazingly, but to cultivate Irises and other
plants it is absolutely necessary to break up the subsoil and
enrich it without bringing it to the surface, while giving special
attention to adequate drainage. Unfortunately (for the purpose
of this survey) I have no experience of a light, sandy soil.
....There are two limitations which
must be borne in mind, viz., that I am not quite sure of the current
prices of some of the varieties recommended, and that some of
the French and American varieties cannot be obtained (except by
gift--I don't advocate "scrounging") until the close
of the present hostilities.
....It may safely be assumed that
it will not be long (a season or two) before the novice becomes
eager to widen the scope of his plantings. Then will be the time
for him to invest some of his cash, after paying Income Tax, in
certain varieties which are just on the wrong side of the price-dividing
line. Further guidance as to the behaviour of Irises not dealt
with above can be obtained on application to the Secretary or
the Editor of the Society.
....Should the gardener wish to make
his Iris season longer without incurring much extra expenditure
he could preface the tall bearded varieties by a planting of the
Intermediates,* such as Red Orchid, Sapphire, Gentius,
Moonbeam. These would begin early in May. Most of the Intermediates
are very floriferous.
....Well, there it is! I am far from
satisfied with the result of my Cogitations. Probably no list
compiled by any grower would be free from justifiable criticism.
From the beginning I have been beset by qualms as to my folly
in taking on this job but the Editor overbore my reluctance. (I
don't think I like Editors!) I devoutly hope that this MS. will
not come back to me again, for every time it comes into my hands
I shall want to make alterations in the list of selected varieties
There are very many alternatives to choose from, and already the
Editor has set the bad example, "What about my favourite,
C___?"
....However, if you will make generous
allowances for errors of omission and commission, my general line
of defence will be that the selection is based on regular and
earnest study of hundreds of varieties.
*A.I.S. classification.
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