Re: SIB, CULT- % losses

In a message dated 97-03-23 15:57:52 EST, you write:

<< A few have asked who my supplier of siberian irises was last year.  I
wasn't
 going to mention any names, but it was our very own disreputable Clarence.
  Sold me dead irises then shut down his business and skipped town to live
off
 his Swiss bank account somewhere <grin>. >>

Linda, I always replaced any irises I sold to anyone when they did not live.
 And even though I am not selling irises any more I will replace those you
lost (But only once!)    Over more than a decade of selling irises, I
replaced a few bearded irises--but more Japanese irises (and this was usually
caused by my shipping in late August, early Sept, which sometimes was too
late for New York, Maine, etc---especially if people did not mulch).  But
even with Japanese, I never had to replace very many.   I think in all those
years I was asked to replace only 3 or maybe 4 Siberian irises---because I
furnished first class plants and it is VERY hard to kill Siberian irises.
Almost always one loses Siberian irises only if one fails to keep them wet
before planting or if one does not protect them from heaving.  

There are certain Siberian cultivars that can be "problem" growers, but the
only one of these I am aware that I ever sold was HUBBARD, and I stopped
selling it when I realized how tempermental it can be.  

In replacing plants the first year, I never asked why the plant died---I just
replaced any iris if someone told me it did not live.  The Siberian plants I
furnished were 3,4,5 or more fans---if I had to send a smaller plant than
this I  also added "substitute"irises in addition to the one ordered.  Most
of the Siberian irises I sold the last 6 years were grown by a woman who is
one of the premier iris growers I have ever known.  The root systems were
usually massive in comparison with most Siberian irises one buys.  And anyone
who ever ordered from me knows what "extras" are---because I don't know
anyone who provides the number and value of "extras" I sent with orders.  

I believe you were jesting about my sending dead plants---I certainly hope
so---but one's reputation can be easily ruined.  And even though I am not
selling irises any longer, I would hate for someone to repeat your message
and pass it around---because others could quite easily take it seriously.
  Clarence Mahan in VA
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