Re: City of Stratford
- To: i*@rt66.com
- Subject: Re: City of Stratford
- From: B* R* <b*@networx.on.ca>
- Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 22:44:53 -0400
At 11:33 AM 23/09/96 -0600, you wrote:
>In a message dated 96-09-23 11:51:33 EDT, you write:
>
>> what can you tell us about this hybridizer??
>
>The 1939 Check List says:"Miles--William Miles, Surreyhurst Farm, R.R. 5
>Ingersoll, Ont. Canada. Horticulturalist, Regional Vice-President, A.I.S.
>Awarded Silver Medal, Ontario Horticultural Society, for Iris breeding."
> Clarence Mahan in VA
>
Bruce replies:
I knew Mr. Miles personally. He came from England and worked for a
nurseryman in Brantford for several years hybridizing iris for him - which
he introduced as his own. Sorry I don't recall his name as I did not know
Miles then. He left Brantford for a diary farm near Ingersoll and continued
his hybridizing there' We visited him frequently and saw his rows of
seedlings planted in rows about 10' apart so he could cultivate then by disc
from his tractor seat. He was by far the best hybridizer Canada has ever
had. Winner of the Foster plaque and the Dykes medal. He died of a gunshoot
wound from his own shotgun in such a situation as it could not be determined
if it was an accident or otherwise. A letter to my wife was found in his
typewriter half written and indicated his plans ahead and nothing about
suicide. He was in good health and sound mind too the last time we saw him a
few months previously. This happened in mid winter. I might add he was one
of the founders of the Canadian Iris Society.
Bruce Richardson (near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) <brucer@networx.on.ca>
Bruce Richardson (near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
