Re: REF: Checklists (was Descriptions-More!!!)

J. Michael, Celia or Ben Storey wrote:
> 
> >>I have a question....what are the "check lists" that you refer to.  How do I
> >get them?
> 
> Gayla, Registration & Introductions of new irises are compiled by the AIS
> every year into pamphlets which you can purchase through the AIS Storefront
> in the quarterly AIS Bulletin. Every decade, the annual pamphlets are put
> together into a decade book. These are available for decades beginning with
> 1939.
> The lists include originator or collector who *registers* each cultivar,
> which type iris it is, how tall the bloomstalk should grow and when in the
> general season for that type plant it usually blooms, a description of the
> bloom, immediate parentage, whether there's a fragrance (sometimes) and the
> name of the commercial source that *introduced* it for sale.
> The older checklists use cryptic codes instead of plain English to describe
> blooms, but they make up for that by including fascinating little histories
> of the hybridizers and commercial growers and amusing lists of common
> misspellings of the plants' names. Newer books merely list hybrizers'
> addresses, but the descriptions of flower appearance are clear and exact.
> 
> You can compile helpful flower descriptions from some good catalogs, but
> for the definitive description, look to the R&I's.
> 
> The annual pamphlets for the '90s cost $6 apiece and are available for each
> year through 1996. Decade books cost $10 each for decades from '39 to '69,
> inclusive. The book for '79 costs $17; '89 costs $15. A complete set of all
> the checklists would cost $124. Price includes shipping.
> 
> That's quite a financial investment. Some local iris clubs purchase copies
> for their members' use.
> 
> Because there is no unified database available, when I see people on IRIS-L
> responding to long requests for listing information, I'm awed by how
> generous they are with their time. It takes a while to thumb through those
> separate volumes to find an individual plant, let alone whole lists. They
> do it out of the goodness of their hearts.
> 
> People like John I. Jones and Howard Hughes, who are trying to provide
> electronic checklists, deserve all our thanks and praise.
> 
> celia
> storey@aristotle.net
> Little Rock


Celia,

You are correct when you state that people are very generous with their
time.  Ellen Sullivan spent a few hours helping me look up 33 iris
identifications yesterday.  When I first started collecting iris, I did
not realize the importance of keeping the information regarding each
rhizome that I bought or was given.  After seeing how much effort goes
into locating that information, I will make sure to record all the info
I get when I acquire a new rhizome.  By the way, thank you Ellen.

Lana Barotta    Whitewright, Texas  Zone 7 I think
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