IRIS. 195 



up a harmony of colouring, and to soften the 

 abruptness of the change which catches the eye 

 when waters are too suddenly contrasted with the 

 land. Where the waters are of sufficient size to 

 maintain fish and aquatic birds, we should never 

 fail to set aquatic plants, which Nature instructs us 

 to be necessary for their shelter, food, and medicine. 



In situations where it may be desirable to keep 

 the waters free from plants, there can be no objec- 

 tion to the banks being beautified by the yellow 

 and purple corollas of the Iris, provided they are 

 so judiciously placed as not only to be doubled by 

 reflection, but carry rather the appearance of grow- 

 ing naturally on the spot, than of being placed there 

 by the hand of art. 



Where the Yellow Iris is allowed to grow on the 

 brink of waters, the purple or blue varieties should 

 be planted on the banks as a contrast, but in no 

 instance in such a manner as to give the idea of a 

 border to the lake, but rather to add irregularity, 

 and break uniformity, by large clusters of these 

 plants ascending the banks. 



In the most embellished borders of the vernal 

 season the dwarf species of Irises cannot fail to be 

 attractive. The Persian Iris displays, on the same 

 petal, nearly all the tints of " The dome's high 

 arch," and, like it, 



K 2 



