Re: Milk Fed Iris (Long)
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] Milk Fed Iris (Long)
- From: M* M*
- Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 02:02:46 +0000
Reminds me of the work being done using milk as an anti-fungal spray on
roses - one part milk to ten parts water. Apparently works very well.
Max
>From: "David Silverberg" <sil1812@molalla.net>
>Reply-To: iris-talk@yahoogroups.com
>To: <iris-talk@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: [iris-talk] Milk Fed Iris (Long)
>Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 17:23:32 -0800
>
>Linda's comment on Bernice Miller burying powdered milk under her iris
>brought back an experiment I was going to try about 30 or more years ago
>based on something I had read. I never got the opportunity to try it - but-
>I will herewith supply the source and the information that tempted me. I
>make no comment as to the efficacy of the treatment so if you try it and it
>doesn't work - please "don't shoot the messenger!!"
>
>Iris Culture and Hybridizing for Everyone, Wilma Vallette, published 1961,
>pages 19-20 [Note: the information below was gleaned from the many iris
>Robins that Wilma both directed and was a member. That is the reason for
>the direct quotes.]
>
>Newest way of all to feed iris is to use--skim milk! It sounds silly to
>speak of milk-fed iris, but reports from all over the country indicate that
>it really works, as all but a few noticed much improved growth and
>increase. Either dry milk can be used, or skim milk, diluted to the same
>amount. Dissolve one lb. dry milk in five quarts of water, then dilute each
>quart with two gallons more of water. Apply it once in the spring as soon
>as growth becomes active, again when the buds push out, and a third time
>shortly after blooming season is over, and perhaps again in late October.
>Use about a pint to an ordinary sized one-year clump, or more inproportion
>for larger ones. An agricultural brand of dried milk from the feed-store,
>the kind used for calves, costs about a third as much as milk from the
>grocer; even sweepings from a processing plant where dried milk is made
>will do, though each pound should be dissolved in a litle less water,
>according to how much of it is dirt instead of milk--the iris won't mind at
>all having a little dirt in their milk! Used too often or too strong,
>milk-feeding may make such a lush growth that rot may set in, and to be
>sure it does not, it is a good idea to add two tbs. of some vertinary-brand
>powder form aureomycin to each gallon; the two together are said to give
>even better results than milk alone, with NO rot, ever.
>Just why milk should be a good iris food is not clear. Once the fat is
>removed, calcium is the most important element left, and this organic
>calcium, in a form that is immediately available, may be the answer. Or
>perhaps, it is the phosphorus present with the calcium (which in the body
>provides the anchorage for calcium, which cannot be used without it), ort
>perhaps milk may contain some essential trace-element. It is quite sure
>that any vitamins present would make no difference, as Vitamins A and D
>(the most important in milk) are removed with the cream, and also, A is
>present in all green plants, and D is the sunshine-vitamin, which the plant
>gets for itself. Or perhaps milk activates helpful soil bacteria. This may
>be why some noticed no beneficial results--their soil already had the right
>proportions of calciu and phosphorus and the proper pH, and did not need
>changing. If so, presumably limy soils might benefit less than one slightly
>more acid. It has also been suggested that the milk provides a little extra
>nitrogen, as such increase could surely not be made without this element.
>One report was of using milk-feeding after the big freeze "Down South" in
>the spring of 1955, on one bed but not another, of one-year plants, mostly
>of one rhizome each, that were "cooked almost to a mush by the freeze." It
>was applied immediately after the freeze, with a light feeding of a
>complete fertilizer on both beds about May 1. In two months time, the
>untreated bed had only ordinary increase; that on the milk-fed bed was
>"phenomenal." This same memember experimented also with milk alone, and
>with aureomycin, and was much in favor of using both together, since white
>milk alone gave large rhizomes and plenty of increase, there was a little
>rot, but by adding "aureo" gave even better growth and increase and no rot
>at all. "The two together seem to be an almost perfect diet for iris, she
>says."
>
>I have had personal experience with the use of aureomycin. Back when I was
>still hybridizing, I would soak my seedlings in a solution of Rapid-Gro and
>aureomycin for a period of about 15 minutes. The seedling was planted with
>a 5 oz Dixie cup of the same solution, then fed and watered normally. The
>treated seedlings fared much better i.e. they grew faster, increased faster
>and were, indeed, healthier plants than the controls.
>
>Dave Silverberg
>Molalla, Oregon USA, zone 7/8ish
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
FREE COLLEGE MONEY
CLICK HERE to search
600,000 scholarships!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/iZp8OC/4m7CAA/ySSFAA/2gGylB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
