Difference: HybridizerMilesWilliam (r10 vs. r9)

William Miles (1892-1958), known as a plant hybridist and naturalist (AIS ’49), raised his iris on Surreyhurst Farm near Ingersoll, Ontario. In addition to intermittent membership in the AIS between 1931 and 1957 (CISN v22 n3 p72), he was AIS RVP for Region 15 (Canada) between 1932 and 1938 and Region 16 (Canada) during 1938 and 1939. Born in England, he trained at Wisley and was a friend of W.R.Dykes before emigrating to Canada in 1912. (CIS-N v23 n1 pp26-27) Miles had collaborated with Henry Groff for several years before the latter’s death in 1933, and afterwards continued working with the heirs, posthumously naming and registering iris created earlier under Groff’s name between 1935 and 1941. His experiences with Groof led to him being awarded a Silver Medal from the Ontario Horticultural Society for his breeding before 1939 (AIS ’39) although he continued his own work into the 1940s and 1950s. (CIS-N v22 n1 p28)

Ontario is particularly fortunate in having Mr. William Miles, now of Ingersoll, Ontario and Mr. L. W. Cousins of London, Ontario whose Great Lakes has been the standard of excellence for years, and who modestly admits that a couple of his new iris have merit. One is June Glamour, and there is a very sound white. Mr. Miles is one of the famous British hybridists who worked so successfully with the late Rev. W. R. Dykes. He has a wealth of knowledge and great enthusiasm for his hobby. [Mrs. Harry Bickle, (Ontario), “Iris Interest Grows in Canada”, The Bulletin of the American Iris Society, No. 110 (July 1948): 50.]