Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-07-14
Iris "Poor Mans Orchid"

The iris is undoubtedly one of the
oldest aristocrats among flowers. 1t
has been referred to in ancient poetry
and in history of ancient kings gar
denS.
But what wonderful progress there
has been made the last comparatively
very few years!
During the last 10 to Is years there
has been striking progress in the iris
family. But the end is not yet.
There is today undoubtedly more
amateur and professional hybridiz-
ing and breeders working on the pro-
duction of finer varieties than on any
other flower family.
1t is not necessary to buy the ex-
pensive plants to get good ones. 1t
is only because plant is new and
stock limited that the price is so
high. Some of the moderately priced
plants will be just as good. There
are so many kinds of iris now that
bloom from early spring until late
summer The foliage should not be
cut back except when transplanting
or if diseased. We strongly advise
against spring planting of iris because
it is fundamentally against the ma
ture of the plant All spring flower
ing plants should be transplanted in
the fall. Plant iris preferably in
July or as soon as possible after
blooming If the season is dry as
generally is the case in July, they
should be well watered. This will
give them a chance to establish them
selves before frost sets in. To dis
locate the roots of an iris a month
or so before blooming season stunts
the bloom and retards the growth of
the small rhiZomes (the large part
of the roots of iris are called rhi-
zomes). 1t will take a whole season
for them to recuperate after such
treatment. This does not apply to
transferring clumps in our own gar
den when a ball of earth is left
on. This they are hardly aware Of
When planting set rhizomes like a
duck in water but cover well with
soil. Whenever they are lifted by
winter weather to the extent of being
exposed they should be covered again.
Spread out the feeder roots as the
fingers of your hand. Never let the
iris go to seed.
When a clump has formed circle
like fan it is time to separate and
transplant. Plant iris in full SUM-
light.
Diseases.
The iris is about as free from
disease as most plants. Leaf spot
and rot are the two most common
troubles. You need not have leaf
spot (rust-like spots) if you spray
with lime sulphur in the fall when
you have the garden cleaned up for
winter, and again in the spring. If
you have trouble with the iris borer
and let it get down into the rhizome,
you may discover rot there. The
iris borer is easily handled. Watch
the leaves in the spring and when
you see leaf with a saWtooth edge,
or one that has watery looking streaks
down it, you may know that leaf is
the home of a baby borer. Take that
leaf off and destroy it and you have
your borer before it has a chance
to do much harm.
If in the meantime your plants have
become badly infected with rot, dig
them, cut away affected parts, leave
in sun a few days to be disinfected,
also emerge in solution of permanga-
nate potassium, or even strong soapy
suds will do.
New Iris.
If you have not tried some of the
new iris, don't let another year 60
by without doing so. When you see
how beautiful they are, and how cas-
lily they are taken care of to give a
quantity of bloom, in early spring
before much else blooms, you will
soon be a real iris fan.