The sun., 1916-12-24

these two beauties was such that while
they lasted I must 20 and see them
three or four times a day. And nea
them were soma older iris, among
them Monsignor. one Of the most i'm
posing and robust Of the whole family.
This had very large petals Of mingled
violet, mauve and purple, with the
richest and most exquisite veining,
made lustrous by a radiant sheen
which glorifed tn whole flower.
Ordinarily some buds will open and
fade and others take their places.
But with Monsignor very often all the
buds on the flower stem will open at
the same time. and at a short distance
II looks like one beautiful bloom. Put
one such stem in a flower vase and
II makes a splendid bouquet Of itself.
I III somewhat partial to this flower.
FOR some time ago I heard Of its
alluring beauty and ventured to buy
three for u each. In three years I
had fifty. which I commenced selling
n tho same price till I had to stop.
Beauty 10 wealth. Let this b your
slogan: plant q lot Of II and be rich.
Why 10 II that people are % re-
luctant in indorsing and adopting this
flower? They think of it with con-
tempt as the in%signihcant flower which
srows in swamps and forget that there
are more than 100 native kinds that
never grow in watery places. and
most Of them must have dry feet.
and then there are more than 1000
choice hybrids with their radiant
loneliness. Just come into our iris
garden. Here Is Tairy-tall. queenly
and graceful. mostly white. with
charming tracery. But added to It's
beauty II nils the air with the delicate
fragrance Of the peach blossom. There
is tho stately Perfection. velvety pur-
pie. With %gllstening reflex and close
by II Caterina. Of softest blue and with
most delightful fragrance. Beyond 10
kingiy Orihamme. with immense petals,
some OF them sprinkled with silver
which sparkles in the sunlight.
And when peonies have not vet
opened and other flowers are scarce for
Decoration Day these sympathetic
flowers are on hand with their cheer
to beautify the graves Of our noble
dead and our departed friends. The
call 10 steadily growing and millions
are now used on that sacred day.
Well. It va Just 90 in introducing
the peony. Twenty years ago there
was but little call for them: people
did not know what they were. When
my nerves had we'll nigh given out
under severe professional work
visited T. c. Thurlow Of West New.
bury. Mass. He was a man with the
sweetest soul I ever knew. II seemed
as though the beauty Of his flowers
had transformed his very existence
He advised me TO 60 to raising peonies
what" said I. "those great. coarse. III
smelling things our mothers raised?"
He said: II think you don't know
what peonies are" He took me out
into his fields. where thousands were
in the full glory Of bloom. Then We
went to the great peony show Of Bos-
ton. where there were such hosts Of
those respondent blooms and hundreds
OF people lowering " them with de.
light. I confess I was soundly con.
verted. I bought . lot and planted ant
studied them. and published the frst
edition OF the peony manual. which
was speedily taken. A rich man In
Minneapolis borrowed q copy and
bought $3.50 worth. A lady in Kansas
sent in a large order. Another mar
bought $3.50 worth. People did not
know what they were. and whom the,
got acquainted with them they wers
just what they wanted. And now IN,
cry Is for more. A Western grower moi
long since had to turn down a call FOL
$4,000 for n Arm.
Let there be light"
And when It comes beauty will ris,
up to greet II.