Hybridizers Seedlings

In a message dated 96-11-26 20:37:58 EST, you write:

<<  I agree totally that more hybridizers should 
 send their seedlings BEFORE intro to all parts of the country.  But, 
 since time is important to the hybridizers, and time doesn't put food on 
 the table, don't expect many of them to offer. >>

A number of well known hybridizers do send their seedlings out for others to
grow in various parts of the country (unfortunately others do not.)  Those
who send them out usually send them to AIS judges to grow for two reasons.
 One, they want to be sure the person who will be evaluating them knows what
to look for.  Two, because there is limited stock of a new seedling, they
want to send them to someone who will give the seedling a vote for AIS awards
if the seedling has merit.  In sending their seedlings out, the hybridizers
are seldom concerned about losing sales of new introductions...quite the
reverse.  They are far more interested in getting wide distribution, and
therefore usually seek to send them to AIS judges who they know will
contribute increases to local and regional auctions after the iris has been
introduced.  

Some regions have spring meetings with garden tours, and write to hybridizers
around the US inviting them to send guest irises two or three years in
advance for growing in the gardens that will be on tour.  Many iris breeders
send their new introductions and seedlings to these regional programs.  The
hybridizers usually donate the increase of their irises to the region to sell
for local fund raising.  Region 4 has now established a special regional
award, the B. Y. Morrison Award, to bestow on the best out-of-region guest
iris seen on a regional tour.  

Moral: For those who would like to get lots of new irises free, it pays to be
an AIS judge and to have one's garden on regional tours.  

Clarence Mahan in VA
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