RE: Heterosis and Breeding Problems

Thanks so much for the cheers, Clarence!  Actually, I'd love to try writing an 
article, though I don't have any really concrete data about specific iris to 
write about, and I simply don't have the time to do the requisite research 
(it's this job stuff; it really gets in the way of the rest of my life).  I 
could certainly go on about animals (including cheetahs, which "look" like a 
purebred animal, being essentially genetically identical--not a healthy 
condition for a species), but I'm not sure the Bulletin editor would be 
thrilled with that.  It's a nice thought, though.        

Barb, in Santa Fe, where the sunset was outstanding tonight.

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From: 	iris-l@rt66.com on behalf of CEMahan@aol.com
Sent: 	Monday, January 20, 1997 7:54 AM
To: 	Multiple recipients of list
Subject: 	Re: Heterosis and Breeding Problems

In a message dated 97-01-20 00:42:41 EST, Barbara Mann wrote:

<< This is exactly why we need to make sure we don't lose the wild species.
 All 
 of our purebreeding programs, no matter how well intentioned, are in the end

 (which may be a long way off) dead ends. >>

Barbara's point is very important!  The analogy to animal breeding programs
is also important.  In some ways, many of our modern TBs are like some of the
"purebred" dog breeds.  The poor St. Bernard being a prime example, as
"breeding" has created a number of physical problems and "mental" problems.
 I'll bet Barbara could provide a long list of examples.  

Barbara, I wish you would write an article for the AIS Bulletin on this,
giving some of these examples.  The problems with many modern tall bearded
irises are just as great as many of the dog breeds,  but tend to be
overlooked, even by judges, because of the beauty of the flower. Overlooking
these problems is surely a great disservice to the iris as a garden subject.
 Three cheers for Barbara from Clarence Mahan in Virginia, where it is
warming up.
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