RE: Seed Exchanges
- To: I*@Rt66.com
- Subject: RE: Seed Exchanges
- From: "* A* B* <r*@jove.acs.unt.edu>
- Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 16:47:25 -0500 (CDT)
Re: Seed exchanges.
I think it would be good to list the membership benefits of each of AIS
the sections.
Not yet mentioned in this thread is that the Soc. for Pacific Coast
Native Iris has a seed exchange. I joined SPCNI specifically to get seed
for I. munzii which hasn't been offered in the SIGNA exchange since I
joined SIGNA.
I've bought seeds from the SIGNA exchange for four years, and I've gotten
probably 80% of my requests. I too request some rare things and some
common things and list plenty of subs. This is easier now that they have
started listing the number of seeds available (-25, 25+,50+ etc.). That
gives an idea of the odds of getting a particular seed. I don't have a
problem with "contributors first". As the name implies the SIGNA
exchange started out as an EXCHANGE, only later did it become a sale.
("Hey, lets SELL what seed we have left over from our exchange!") It's
really not that hard to get on the preferred customer list. This year, my
first, I donated fewer than 100 total seeds from only three species
(about four pods). You can also donate seeds from hybrids in any class
and other, non-iris, irids. Wild collected seeds are especially sought
after.
This year the SIGNA exchange listed 568 selections. The cost is
$.50/packet. The number of seeds varies but they try to ship at least 4
viable seeds. I've gotten as many as 50+ depending on the iris. I'd
estimate I've been able to germinate seed from 80% of the selections I've
received, and I've been able to keep about 50 % of those alive for a year
or more. (Obviously , this has nothing to do with the quality of the seed
rather my ability to care for them.). I have about 10 mature(ing) clumps
from about $15 worth of seed from my first three years, a good deal from
my point of view. So far I've only bloomed I. graminea from seed, but
what a thrill it was!
Rodney
Rbarton@jove.acs.unt.edu
Texas bloom report for species buffs: I. fulva, I. nelsonii,
I. giganticaerulea, I. orientalis, I. spuria, I. virginica, I.
prismatica, I. laevigata, I. xiphium and I. X pseudacorus ROY DAVIDSON.
