Re: HYB:Trail Gardens:Damage control!

Paul;

 

 I think you just made some very good points. Although I am not sure anyone was quite as negative as they may have sounded. I think we have all been talking around the idea of test gardens, but obviously what the term test garden means to each of us is a different thing. Someone remarked after reading this thread that at least four types of test or trial gardens have been discussed. They share some problems and some benefits but they are different approaches to different goals. One purpose expressed was to see if a cultivar would perform in a range of climates. This perked my attention because many members have expressed a desire for more regional data of how to grow Iris and what does well in their area. It would seem that this information should logically come from their Regions or the local affiliates but sometimes that doesnt work. Another purpose was to breed for more vigorous plants. This is more a relationship between a hybridizer and friends. It may be confined to a certain
 region or maybe more broad. In this case AIS might serve as a catalyst and mediator. 

             The purpose of the early AIS test gardens was very different. The first emphasis was to sort out names, since many different plants had been given the same names, and sometimes the same plant was going under different names. Since registration has been in effect this is no longer much of a problem.  Later test gardens tried to evaluate plant telling us what we should grow. This was one of the reasons they fell on hard times. I and many others dont want to be told what is best. For that reason I dont feel valuation numbers are good ideas. I do like to know facts such as in North Carolina it produces 10 buds but only 6 in Wisconsin. Whether we are gathering information for hybridizers or for people who wish to grow named cultivars makes a difference in how a system functions. Certainly several approaches can be done at the same time by the same or different people. Paul the point you made that people should take on only what they can handle is a good one. I have created
 records and maintained them and have no illusions that they take time and energy. Measuring a thousand plants makes no sense unless you really are motivated and have a good reason for doing so. The benefit of a trial garden is only to provide information. If we understand how we want to use that information it can be collected economically.  

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