Re: Japanese Iris
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Japanese Iris
- From: D*@aol.com
- Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 08:16:53 -0700 (MST)
In a message dated 97-03-02 23:02:53 EST, you write:
<< Somewhere I read that even a small amount of lime is certain death to
Japanese Iris.
Will someone please comment on this assertion ? >>
Hello, Vernon. I am not an expert on JIs and cannot explain why lime is
death to them, but I accept it as true since the experienced JI growers on
the list (Clarence Mahan, for one) and others who have written about JIs
(Currier EcEwen, in particular) warn about it!
Lime, of course, results in alkaline soil which JIs will not tolerate. There
is a fascinating chapter in the history of JI breeding involving Max Steiger
of Germany, and his attempts to develop JIs which would grow in alkaline
soils. While he apparently had some success, those plants have been lost
over time.
For more info. on JIs, I recommend Currier McEwen's book, The Japanese Iris.
I am not sure, though, where it is available now as I have seen it on
close-out dealers lists.
Dorothy Fingerhood
DFingerhoo@aol.com
Newfield NY (where JIs grow quite well, given extra water and plenty of
nitrogen-rich fertilizer )
