Re: Milk Fed Iris (Long)
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] Milk Fed Iris (Long)
- From: C* D*
- Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 21:20:22 -0500
There's a guy here in town who sells milk fed pumpkins at halloween.
They are impressive in size and look generally healthier than the cheap
ones at $2.00. He sells his for $12 to $15 each !!!
Chris
Lafontaine Quebec
Maxine Mabel wrote:
>
> 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]
> >
>
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