This book, Iris Culture and Hybridizing for Everyone, was published in 1961 and is out of print. It's by Wilma L. Vallette. I found a copy online and last night began reading it. I know that the information in it is over 50 years old, but it's encyclopedic! The author has collected information from 300 experienced iris growers. I'm "saving" the first chapter for later. All about chromosomes and such - need a clear head for that - and went straight to culture. Already I've discovered ideas I've not seen before. She deals a lot with rot...and suggests the use of Aureomycin and Terramycin to control it, among other things. I googled it, and Aureomycin is still used in cattle feed to control bacterial outbreaks. I wonder if modern irisarians use it?

Another eyebrow-raiser is the use of powdered skim milk mixed with water on the plants!
Raves! Superior irises result! This sounds like an easy one to try.
So much information, I've barely scratched the surface!

Sounds like a fascinating read I had historical rose book that talked about using night soil and pig manure as the best fertilizers for roses.....made me smile but it was also fascinating that it mentioned the cities being to sooty to grow healthy roses.... I love history involving people and their plants especially when it covers growing techniques. I'm currently reading about Beatrix Potter's gardening life.

I'd love to hear anything about Beatrix Potter's garden, Rebekah!

thank you for sharing, jan. we all learn something from this knowledgable group.

interesting about the powdered milk. i've used evaporated milk, straight from the can to emulsify an ink stain on clothing before laundering, and diluted 'em' to seal cracks in pottery to make them watertight. it's the casein from the milk when heated in a low temperature oven that flows into the crack and when it dries makes a tight seal.

You have a great winter ahead of you just for reading.

I've used agrastrep17 (agricultural streptomycin) and aueromycin for soft rot....it does work well, better than "bleach water," or Comet. Downside to both these , though , is they are PRETTY strong ! They require "protective equipment" (masks, gloves, long sleeves, etc.), or they can be a danger to the applier !
The "skimmed milk" (or powdered milk), as a fertilizer I've not actually tried it, but have read several articles "debunking" it......it IS 'all organic', but there are other fertilizers ....both "chemical and organic" that will give you the same "bang" for less money.
There are lots of culture tips around.....these "old" books are full of them, and , no doubt, most of the advice worked....at least for the person who "discovered it",in THEIR garden. Whether or not it will work for US in OUR garden . My advice....get a soil test ! That way you know *exactly* what...if any....amendments your beds need.

Aw, Arlyn. I love some of the old nostrums! Magical thinking - I haz it!

There's so much information in this book! Most of it would probably be not as controversial
as the skim milk treatment. Which I may try anyway!
I just noticed that there's a copy up for auction on ebay.

I bought a second copy on eBay...for under a dollar! And it's been called "rare" by booksellers. Shipping was a tad excessive. I'll give it to a local friend who's just getting into irises.

I also looked up some facts about aureomyin, after Arlyn's warning. I usually eschew any kind of chemicals in the garden, and I've only ever had one case of rot so far...but I thought it might be a useful tool for treatment if rot comes back, since I seem to be particularly sensitive to bleach and don't use it in the laundry or cleaning. I get respiratory problems when I breathe it in.
What surprised me about aureomycin was to learn that it is regularly fed to cattle, pigs, chickens, etc! And we ingest it when we eat the meat of those animals! I try to always buy organic.

I'm going to start giving a few of my irises the dilute skim milk treatment, just for my own test.. I figure 300 iris growers can't be totally wrong!

I need to get my hands on some books. I'll start looking early tomorrow.

Start with The World of Iris if you don't have it.

shizen said:interesting about the powdered milk. i've used evaporated milk, straight from the can to emulsify an ink stain on clothing before laundering.

That's interesting, Daphne. Wonder if that would work to remove ink stains from carpeting? I have a criminal dog who steals pens in the night, and dismantles them on carpeting, leaving obvious ink stains behind........

It must be the gnomes, Panda wouldn't do that!

it might mary anne, i would try it first on a small inconspicuous place with a q-tip. this method, spreads the color out a lot so you have to have some way to really "launder" the spot.

the type of milk has to be either cream or evaporated milk ( not condensed, skimmed or low fat milk). it has something to do with the fat content of the milk emulsifying the pigment in the ink, so it can be washed away. wouldn't want your home to smell like baby formula altho' your dog might like it.

tveguy3 said:It must be the gnomes, Panda wouldn't do that!

Hah! Adorable she is -- but criminally-minded, I'm afraid..................

shizen said:it might mary anne, i would try it first on a small inconspicuous place with a q-tip. this method, spreads the color out a lot so you have to have some way to really "launder" the spot.

the type of milk has to be either cream or evaporated milk ( not condensed, skimmed or low fat milk). it has something to do with the fat content of the milk emulsifying the pigment in the ink, so it can be washed away. wouldn't want your home to smell like baby formula altho' your dog might like it.

There IS no inconspicuous place!!!!! The spots are right in the middle of *wherever*..........

I've got a Green Machine. So I'm wondering if I treat them with evaporated milk -- then use the Green Machine right after...................

I doubt if the milk would harm the rug. I wish I knew that a while back, I threw out a shirt that had a large ink spot on the pocket where a pen leaked. I bought some stuff that was supposed to take out ink, but it didn't work.

Daughter says that nail polish remover will get rid of ink stains. Maybe only fresh ones.

janwax said:This book, Iris Culture and Hybridizing for Everyone, was published in 1961 and is out of print. It's by Wilma L. Vallette. I found a copy online and last night began reading it. I know that the information in it is over 50 years old, but it's encyclopedic! The author has collected information from 300 experienced iris growers. I'm "saving" the first chapter for later. All about chromosomes and such - need a clear head for that - and went straight to culture. Already I've discovered ideas I've not seen before. She deals a lot with rot...and suggests the use of Aureomycin and Terramycin to control it, among other things. I googled it, and Aureomycin is still used in cattle feed to control bacterial outbreaks. I wonder if modern irisarians use it?

Another eyebrow-raiser is the use of powdered skim milk mixed with water on the plants!
Raves! Superior irises result! This sounds like an easy one to try.
So much information, I've barely scratched the surface!

Jan ~ At what website did you find it?

Never mind... I found it, thank you.