HYB - TB: Reg. 7 Irisarian Reprints #7
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: HYB - TB: Reg. 7 Irisarian Reprints #7
- From: "* D* S* <g*@ccast.com>
- Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 13:14:22 -0700 (MST)
>If one is not interested.......... hit the "delete" key.
>
> A series of articles reprinted from the Region 7 IRISARIAN with myself as
> Editor in 1990-91. [Gary Sides--Jan. 1998: Posted to Iris-L]
>
"HOW TO" IN TEN EASY LESSONS
Franklin E. Carr Bordentown, NJ
I am sure you are familiar with the advertising jargon of becoming an
expert in certain fields after a course of only ten easy lessons.
Unfortunately that cannot be applied to iris hybridizing and I might
add iris judging. Any knowledge that can be acquired in only ten easy
lessons certainly will not make a full-fledged hybridizer or judge.
One outstanding quality a hybridizer must possess is "patience". If a
novice does not have this virtue, I am afraid that he or she may become so
discouraged that a hybridizing project will be short-lived. In the attempt
to develop a "credible" seedling the beginner may become impatient with the
results and give up.
If the beginner has an innate artistic sense of proportion, balance and
order in compliance with standards of the AIS, a picture of a desired
end-result can be ascertained and strived for. Indeed, the hope and
anticipation of developing a promising seedling helps one to keep enthused.
To the novice, remember you are undertaking an art form. A wide world of
color is before you. It waits for you to uncover its splendors. You will
be placing a piece of living art in the world creating a joy not only for
yourself but for others. Yes, there are disappointments and frustrations
to test one's patience in hybridizing as there are in other art forms, but
what a sense of satisfaction and elation comes forth when an exceptional
"new arrival" appears in the seedling bed.
In observing a new seedling, one essential quality is hopefully
present--the plant has sufficient increase to keep the clone going. One of
the most disappointing experiences for a hybridizer is for an outstanding
first year seedling "to bloom out" consequently losing the cultivar. A
severe test of one's patience.
There are other areas to test one's patience such as:
1. A waiting period for first bloom.
2. Time spent cultivating and evaluating promising seedlings.
3. Waiting for judges and other AIS members to see your seedlings.
4. Waiting period between registration and introduction.
5. Sending irises to conventions and waiting for results.
6. Weather conditions which may impair getting the full value and benefit
of seedlings.
7. Limited space available for a hybridizing garden.
There may be other tests of one's patience depending on a person's
attitude. For those who have small gardens do not let limited space deter
you from hybridizing. Twenty-eight years ago I decided to hybridize tall
bearded irises in a small back yard garden. I refer to my garden as a
"postage stamp" size garden. In the course of those 28 years I have won 24
International awards in Florence, Italy; Orleans, France; Frankfurt,
Germany; and Munich, Germany. A gold medal was won in Frankfurt and two
gold medals in Munich.
Working in a small area indeed has disadvantages, i.e. not being able to
set out large numbers of seedlings. But in my case it also has an
advantage in that only those seedlings that come up to "my standards"
remain for another year's culture. Needless to say, I must be very
critical and selective. Simply, there is not enough space to accommodate
plants that are apparently slow in coming up to my expectations.
One should work continually to develop a keen sense of observation. Take
time to see what is really in the "world of irises" and promote your ideas
so that your irises will take a prominent place in the world. You can do
it even though it will take longer than ten easy lessons!
