July 13, 1907 



HORTICULTURE 



33 



German Iris 



THEIK CDLTDRE 



This very late cool season has a number of advan- 

 tages, and perhaps not the least of these is the length 

 of the flowering period of hardy herbaceous perennials. 

 The German irises have been in bloom more or less for 

 two weeks, and at this writing are just coming into full 

 beauty, those in bloom two weeks ago still making a 

 pretty showing. 



Those who intend planting a bed of "Hardy Orchids" 

 should make their preparations now if possible, and 

 have planting all done by the end of this month. Have 

 a foot of good rich loam in a fairly dry position, mak- 

 ing sure that no superfluous water will stand on the 

 plants during winter months. It is very important 

 that tlie roots are planted straight down; rather shorten 

 the roots than turn the ends up, and — most important of 

 all — do not plant too deep : the rhizomes must be out of 

 the ground to insure profuse blooming. If you will 

 look at any Iris Germanica clumps that have been 

 planted some time you will And more than half of each 

 rhizome out of the ground. 



SOME STANDARD KINDS 



It is almost impossible to describe in detail the dif- 

 ferent species to which the large number of varieties be- 

 long ; in fact we are getting very much mixed in tracing 

 varieties to their respective origins. It is of the stand- 

 ard kinds that the following descriptions are given. 



The beautiful Florentine Iris or orris root is the 

 first to bloom, soon followed by its mate spectabilis, the 

 former with large - white flowers delicately tinted 

 lavender, the latter deep velvety purple flowers of large 

 size. Pallida Mandraliscae comes next with standard 

 and falls of a deep rich purple. The following usually 

 come into bloom in rapid succession. 



Pallida dalmatica. The best of the light lavender, 

 with spikes well above foliage, flowers light clear laven- 

 der, drooping petals tinted rose. 



H. Oramer. Standard and falls pale lavender, falls 

 somewhat darker, a very free bloomer. 



Asiatica. Very large flower deep rich purple, falls 

 velvety. 



Aurea. Clear bright yellow. 



Victorine. One of the most striking. Standard 

 pure white slightly blotched purple, falls rich velvety 

 purple. 



Mme. Neuhronnes. Golden yellow, the finest of this 

 tiolor yet introduced. 



Gypsy Queen. The best of the smoky varieties. 

 Standard cloudy copj^ery yellow, falls deep rich velvety 

 maroon. 



Trautlieb. Clear delicate pink, the prettiest of this 

 shade. 



Inezenza. Pure white. 



Mme. Paquette. Large flower, deep purple lilac, falls 

 darker. 



Gracchus. Standards clear light yellow, falls crim- 

 son veined white, a striking variety. 



Flavescens. Clear delicate pale yellow. 



Her Majesty. A very handsome distinctive variety 

 ■with light rosy purple standards and dark red purple 

 falls. 



Queen of May. A delicate soft Ulac pink, very 

 effective and showy. 



Mme. Chereau. An old variety, but still one of the 



leaders ; pure white frilled and margined light lavender. 



Honorablis. Deep golden yellow, with bronze falls. 



Mrs. H. Darwin. One of the best whites and a very 

 free bloomer, falls veined purple. 



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Paeony Notes from Stonycroft 

 Gardens 



The flrst Paeony Sinensis to bloom was Sarah 

 Bernhardt (Dessert). This paeony was found by Des- 

 sert in his grandfather's collection unnamed, and was 

 named by him in 1895. It is a niedium grower, free 

 bloomer and is certainly four days earlier than anything 

 else here. The flowers could have all been cut and out 

 of the way before all others. 



The next were Duchess de Neumours (Guerin) and 

 Whitleyi. These came practically together, four to flve 

 days after Sarah Bernhardt. Then came Mme. de Ver- 

 neville, the queen of all early bloomers. This variety 

 has a very delicate and chaste bloom. Medium grower, 

 profuse bloomer, and is an all round valuable variety. 



Then follows the bulk of the midseason's blooms, 

 with Festiva Maxima only a day or so in advance. This 

 variety is an old standby for general admiration. It is 

 tall and strong, but the flower is harsh and coarse in 

 a mass. I know it is very generally admired, but it 

 is inferior to Festiva, which is one of the delicate and 

 charming flowers. For home use, Festiva is far su- 

 perior to Festiva Maxima. I have no doubt that many 

 admirers of the large robust ilaxima will frown at my 

 .statement, but if you do, I ask you to grow them both, 

 side by side, before you talk too strong. 



One of the very best of white varieties to follow 

 after the above, is Avalanche. It is an excellent all 

 round variety. Then follows Baroness Schroeder, an 

 excellent and charming late white. I am not sure but 

 this is the best medium late white in existence. With 

 this comes Mirelle and Marie, two excellent tall growing 

 cream whites. These are not quite so late as the ivory- 

 white Marie Lemoine (Calot), but they are worthy a 

 place in any collection. 



The fine golden yellow of Courronne d'Or is nearly 

 equalled by Mens. Dupont. Emilie Hoste, the paeony 

 sent us from Holland as of their own growing, is none 

 other than this French variety Mons. Dupont renamed. 

 The Holland growers would better let that business 

 alone. They can at best only imitate a prominent Eng- 

 lish firm, and the better they imitate them the greater 

 their failure in the end. 



The newer French varieties such as : Aurore, Mme. 

 de Treyeran, Germain Bigot, Eosa Bonheur, Therese, M. 

 Martin Cahuzae and others lately introduced, are at the 

 top of all delicate colors. These varieties are yet scarce, 

 but they are worth the price, and any one buying them 

 will have the lively satisfaction when they bloom of 

 knowing that the mass of paeonies cannot touch them. 



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