IRIS. 193 



Btrowe mee the groande with Daffadown-Dillies, 

 And Cowslips, and Kingcups, and loved Lillies: 



Tin' prettie Pawnee, 

 And the ( 'hevisaunce, 



Small match with the fayre Flowre Delice, 



Skep. Cal 



Dr. Turner says, in 1568, the Iris is called 



Floure de Lyce. Gerard and Parkinson write it 



Flower de Luce, which is continued by all who 



distinguish the Iris from the Lily. When Shaks- 



peare wrote 



Lilies of all kinds, 



The Flower-de-Luce being one, 



botanical arrangements had not then been suffi- 

 ciently established to settle the natural affinities of 

 plants. 



Martyn enumerates fifty distinct species of Iris in 

 his edition of Miller, 1807, but Aiton regards but 

 thirty-two species in the Hortus Kewensis. Of 

 many of these species there are varieties, so that 

 few flowers would contribute more to ornament our 

 gardens were their culture as much attended to as 

 their beauty demands. It is also a great recom- 

 mendation to these plants, that, whilst some of the 

 kinds blossom as early as March and April, others 

 succeed them through every month until August 

 and September. The easy propagation and hardy 

 nature of the greater number of these plants renders 

 it unnecessary to dwell upon their culture ; but we 

 cannot leave the Iris of Flora, without strongly re- 



VOL. I. k 



