Hortus #3

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

--------------78C444A1ADB
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

I've decided to send the 3rd part of Hortus today.  Enjoy.

Dennis

--------------78C444A1ADB
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Disposition: inline; filename="hortus3.txt"



The Era of Iris Hybridizing Comes to a Close - Part 3
Hortus Veritas


Pointing out that Japanese irises all arise from Iris ensata,
 some people have hinted that one might collect various
 forms of other species and breed them toward achieving
 bigger flowers, clearer colors, differently formed flowers,
 dwarf plants, and more patterns.  They cite such species
 as I. veriscolor, virginica, setosa, prismatica, cristata, tectorum
, laevigata, and missouriensis as good candidates for such
 hybridizing efforts.  I am not even going to comment on such =

ideas except to say: "Some people just don't seem to
have common sense."  =

There are people who think that miniature tall bearded
 irises could be improved.  They seem to think that all the
 clear colors and various flower forms now represented
 among tall bearded cultivars could be produced in miniature
 tall bearded lines  Some of these same people think it
 might be possible to develop better border bearded
 cultivars that grow in class. They even opine that strains
 of miniature dwarf bearded irises that do well in the
 southern part of the U.S. might be achieved.  In every
 field of endeavor there are unrealistic dreamers.
 Do these people really think that working on such
 goals would be worth the effort?
And who in the world really needs better branching? =

Or higher bud count? Or irises that hold up better in wind and rain?
 Or dwarf Siberians? Or aril, arilbred, and Pacific Coast Native irises
 that are more adaptable to a diversity of climates and soils? Who, indeed!=

"No!" I say.  The era of great iris breeding achievements is entering
 its twilight time.  We will all be better off when we recognize =

there is little to be done in the future.  I, for one, would rather spend
 my time more productively building cold frames in which to grow
 tender tall bearded irises. And unlike some lazy people, I enjoy staking
 the many modern tall bearded cultivars that fall over in the slightest bre=
eze.
Just because breeding irises is a really fun thing to do does not justify =

fighting Nature.  There are no more worthy goals to be sought.  Don't waste=
 your time.
=00
--------------78C444A1ADB--
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index