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Very well said, Bill. --
Griff
zone 7 in Virginia
----- Original Message -----
From:
o*@aol.com
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 2:14
PM
Subject: Re: [iris-photos] Re: Peach
Spot
In a
message dated 1/3/2004 9:31:22 AM Central Standard Time, n*@charter.net writes:
In any event, what Barry had to say may be very worth while in
view of your objectives. I've heard it often said--"Build on the
successes of the past."
This is an attitude that seems to
permeate the thinking of great hybridizers regardless of the species with
which they work. Pat Stamile (winner of several Stout medals) in the daylily
world said (with much humility) that we stand on the backs of others who have
gone before us. Just one more reason good hybridizers are heroes
here.
Whether one chooses the path of least resistance (intuitive
crosses) or knowledge based (plotted crosses) high numbers of seedlings are
necessary with the plotted crosses in theory requiring less to reach a
predetermined objective.
Both methods have a high level of
unpredictable outcome with plotted or planned crosses having less. Perhaps
though, intuitive crosses because of their less predictable outcomes seem to
have an equal or greater probability of producing uniqueness-true hybridizing
breaks. Too, intuitive crosses allow unfettered pursuit of improved overall
plant habit and performance. Most of us come around to a method that involves
a hybrid of the two approaches leaning more toward one than the other as we
use the bits of knowledge we accumulate proceeding from bloom season to bloom
season. Further development of anything good that results from either method
requires good record keeping.
Beauty like "good" as it relates to
flowers is a subjective quality. This makes it unlikely that from the number
of possible outcomes of a given cross any two hybridizers would select the
same plant unless the quality being evaluated was narrowed to a single minute
feature. Even then an argument between the two is a given.
Regardless
of method or outcome objective, it is doubtful any great financial success
will result for most of us playing in the game. Viewed in the light of other
rewards though, the success is immeasurable. The greatest of these for me is
the sense of awe I experience each time I stare into a bloom never seen by
eyes other than mine ... and as I look at tan seeds collected and shelled only
this day, no small measure of reward has already been extracted. Anticipation.
Hope. Wonder. A piece of a puzzle that may lead to an answer to a question I
did or did not ask and likely another question.
I do not recall being
disappointed by an iris bloom or having had my ego damaged by one. I am often
confused and routinely have my confidence in what I thought I had learned
shaken with nearly every new bloom..... all of this combines to just create
greater awe. I love the circle.
Smiles,
Bill Burleson
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