194 FLORA HISTORICA. 



commending it a more frequent situation in every 

 pleasure-ground than it now occupies. 



It is a species of flower that our earliest gardeners 

 seem to have cultivated with great delight, on 

 account of its rich and varying colours ; for, whilst 

 it equals the bow of Iris in the softness of the tints 

 of some of its varieties, the petals of others excel in 

 richness the celebrated purple of Tyre, whilst other 

 kinds exhibit a colour so opposite, and of so vivid a 

 dye, as to be made emblematical of flame. 



As our collectors have brought the Iris from 

 every quarter of the glebe, so would we see it flou- 

 rish in every part of our grounds, and even in 

 the waters ; for, 



Amid its waving swords, in flaming gold 

 The Iris towers. 



Charlotte Smith. 



Where waves the hulrush as the waters glide, 

 And yellow flag-flowers deck the sunny side. 



Scott. 



It is difficult to imagine an effect more agreeable 

 to the eye than clumps of these yellow flowers re- 

 flected in the blue waters of our winding streams 

 and ornamental lakes. The embellishment of such 

 situations, in general, is too little understood, and 

 less attended to. We would not wish to see the 

 banks of our rivers bearing visible marks of art, but 

 the naked expanse of artificial lakes is unnatural — 

 a proportion of aquatic plants is necessary to keep 



