AMOS PERRY, V.M.H.
....Amos Perry, V.M.H., Perry's
Hardy Plant Farm, Enfield, Middlesex, England. One of the most
celebrated nurseries in the world. Mr. Perry's father and grandfather
were partners in the old firm of R. S. Ware at Tottenham, an outstanding
nursery of its day, noted for the raising and introduction of
new plants, among which were many Irises of all groups, especially
Japanese. These varieties were among the best of their period
and some are still in the trade, such as GRACCHUS.
Mr. Perry was active in raising new Irises about 1916-1917, putting
out splendid varieties that have been ancestors of many of the
best we have today, as BLACK PRINCE,
from which descended the DOMINION race.
His most unique activities in Iris raising are the Beardless hybrids,
crosses between widely separated groups etc., making new sections
or Iris races, as CHRYSOWEGI, BULLEGRAPHES,
DELFOR, TEWAT, etc.
....Among these, MARGOT
HOLMES won a Dykes Medal. There are really
hundreds of good Iris varieties which have been produced by Mr.
Perry and, in later years he has raised a great many magnificent
Day Lilies and Oriental Poppies, not to mention all the fine Asters,
Deiphiniums and other hardy plants the horticultural world owes
to him. He also has written a superb, illustrated book-catalogue,
"Water Plants," without doubt the most complete and
charming brochure devoted to one horticultural subject. A great
many catalogues on different sets of plants are issued by this
firm, a very good one being "Hardy and Exotic Ferns,"
of which there is a remarkable collection in this nursery, as
there is also of bog and water-plants. They listed Irises in 1906
and the Iris catalogue began in 1923. The list of plants produced
and introduced by this firm is an imposing one and should be published
as a record of value to horticulture. Mr. Perry received the Victoria
Medal of Honour in Horticulture in 1935.