1873. ] ROSES AND EOSE-CULTUEE. CHAPTER SV. 25 



IRIS IBERICA PERRYANA. 



"WITH COLOURED ILLUSTEATION. 



'^NE of the most striking and curious plants of its extensive family, and one 



whicli sooner or later will find a place in every garden, is tlie Iris iberica, 



of wliich one form is represented in the accompanying plate. Its gigantic 



'Vsf flowers and curious combination of colour, together with its neat dwarf 



habit, render it as striking as it is pretty. This plant was introduced to English 



gardens by Mr. T. S. Ware, of the Hale Farm Nursery, Tottenham, who has 



already bloomed several distinct varieties. 



The subject of these remarks flowered during the past season in the open 

 ground. It is a native of the Caucasian Mountains, and is found growing at an 

 elevation of from G,000 to 7,000 feet. It forms a tuft of glaucous, slightly re- 

 curved linear-ensiform leaves, 3 in. to 4 in. long, and produces a stem 4 in. to 6 in. 

 high, surmounted by a large solitary flower. It has proved perfectly hardy, 

 having stood the past three winters without any protection whatever. It seems 

 to prefer a light sandy soil, in which it grows very freely ; and it is admirably 

 adapted for almost any position, either on rockwork or in the borders ; more- 

 over, it succeeds well as a pot plant. 



This variety differs from the type form (as figured in the Botanical Magazine^ 

 tab. 5847) both in colour and in size of flower, the true /. iherica being larger, 

 with the outer perianth segments more erect, and the spots at the base of a 

 deeper colour, while the inner segments are of a yellowish-green colour, covered 

 with wrinkled dark purple reticulated bands, and the disk is much larger and of a 

 glossy black colour. There are many varieties of this remarkable species ; and 

 no doubt others will flower during the coming summer. — A. I. Perry, Tottenham. 



ROSES AND ROSE-CULTURE. 



Chapter XV. — On Growing for Exhibition. 

 TA^NE of the most noteworthy features in the cultivation of flowers is that it 

 is an unselfish pleasure ; in its pursuit we necessarily administer to the 

 "^ deUghts and enjoyments of our friends, or, at least, such of them as may visit 

 our house and garden ; and if we exhibit at Flower shows, these gratifications 

 are extended to and shared in by strangers. It by no means follows, however, that 

 if we grow Roses, we must grow for exhibition ; but the adventure is a pleasant 

 one, and if we engage in it, offers an opportunity of measuring our strength and 

 skill against our compeers. Many find infinite pleasure in it, and I shall there- 

 fore endeavour to point out briefly the means best calculated to insure success. 

 Good air and good soil are indispensable conditions here ; the former depends 

 on locality, freedom from smoke and noxious vapours of all kinds ; the latter may 

 be encompassed ai-tificially under circumstances where it may not naturally exist. 

 We repeat here that the best soil for Roses is a strong, deep loam, well 

 enriched with stable-manure, night-soil, and crushed bones, which should be 

 3ed series. — VI. c 



