Viewing post #1149552 by crowrita1

I was fortunate enough to have a complete set of library bound AIS Bulletins come into my possession , and, I've been reading a "year" (one book) every night.....it IS amazing, how those "back in the day" thought about "what was a perfect stalk" . Lots of tips, tricks, and chicanery were, and probably still are, used in getting an iris "show ready". Quite a bit of "ink" was spent on what the Judges should look for....both good and bad...., , and, remember, this was in the days of the "black list" (all those iris which were NOT to be sold, traded ,or grown, because they were "passé", "old fashioned", or "had no redeeming value"). All in all, I think, when a lot of the rules and criteria were laid down.....there were a LOT of iris "snobs" ! I've never "showed" an iris....and probably never will....but, I agree with some of Tom's comments........however NATURE made that stalk, can't be improved on.....wiping finger prints, trimming , etc., should "SUBTRACT" points, not add them !