You (as well as the data base, and the wiki)are correct onthat parentage !....I listed the "wrong parent" (Trostringer instead of Aphrodite)
!
The info on Henry Field , his sister, and the iris named for her....that came from a back issue of ROOTS (the HIPS magazine).
If anyone is really interested in "older" irises, I would urge them to check out the HIPS website....there are lots of interesting articles, and resources, there:
https://www.historiciris.org/
The AIS website also has lots of info on ALL sorts of irises, and, by searching both the Iris", as well as "the hybridizer", a lot of interesting things can "pop up"
http://www.irises.org/
and Fritz' website also has loads of information available:
http://irisparadise.com/Iris/i...
Old vendor's catalogs (of which both HIPS and AIS have example of, online) can be a real goldmine of information, as well.
Jacob, and Henry Sass were noted for using each other's intros (or, in many cases, un introduced seedlings) in their breeding programs, so the shared genetics really complicate the issue , as well as that many (especially Hans' irises) DON'T have the parentage listed, or, an "unnamed seedling" (which might, or might NOT ! have been named, and introduced, later, with no change made in the :stud book") might be listed as one parent.
A great many of the older hybridizers were also know to "sell off" their unnamed seedlings, in "job lots" to other "plant sellers" , or, to donate them to various cities, for landscaping purposes , and , that makes for some really interesting possibilities. i.e. :imagine that Jacob Sass crossed Trostringer and Aphrodite (he did !0, and from that cross, had 31 seedlings (may have been more, may have been less, maybe those two parents were crossed SEVERAL times, with a much higher number than 31seedlings !), and , on blooming, 14 were "tossed" because of various faults. Now, in 1930, Jake selects his "favorite from the remaining 17 irises, names it "Pink Satin", and offers it in his catalog. Then , in 1932, he takes his "second favorite", names it "Twin Sisters", and offers IT for sale. Then, in 1934....maybe needing some more irises to sell, decides that another of those seedlings should , or could, find a market....so, Pink Opal is selected and named. Then....still imagining, now!....that in1939, Henry Field visits Jakes farm, to pick our some irises to add to HIS catalog, and spies another "pink" one in that row of "old seedlings (and, even though the color is more "orchid', that "pink"...orchid was as close to pink as anyone had come , so far), and asks to buy it, for sale in his catalog....asks the name, and , with some "quick thinking" on Jake's part, is told, "Well, it so happens that the name of THAT one is Helen Field Fischer....I named it after your sister, because so many folks love her radio program !" So "Helen Field Fischer "(the iris) gets sold all over the country, to all kinds of gardeners, farm wives to veggie growers, and , possibly even used as a "bonus plant" (free Helen Field Fisher iris with every $10 purchase of seeds !...Could be !?), and theen , finally in 1938, jake decides to plow under the remaing seedlings , to make room for some "new" ones, and say's "Hey, that one on the west end of the row is really pretty darn , nice...and a good grower, too...maybe I should offer it for sale...or even use it as a bonus plant ! I think I'll call it "Pink Demouselle" ! Remember, we're just "imagining", but these types of things DID happen, and spread around a great many very similar irises...some "named", and some" unnamed", and a GREAT many that LOST their name, when they were passed on to daughters, neighbors, or friends !
And, here we are , 20, or 40, or even 100 years later, trying to "put a name" to them
! It CAN be a lot of fun, VERY educational, and a GREAT hobby......but it can ALSO be VERY exasperating !!
