i8 



IRISH GARDENING 



that the colouring of the falls is more uniform 

 and less conspicuously veined. Moreover, the 

 flowers bear a distinct yellow patch on the blade 

 of the falls. This plant is sometimes to be 

 obtained from nurserymen under the name of 

 I. Tolmieana or missouriensis. while the true 

 missouriensis has been in cultivation as I. longi- 

 petala var. montana. 



The other group, of which I. Douglasiana is 

 the most \ igorous and the best known, contains 

 a number of beautiful species well suited for 

 cultivation in large rock gardens in warm aspects 

 and rich, light soil. I. Douglasiana gives rise 

 to innumerable colour varieties, when it is raised 

 from seed, which is by no means a difficult 

 process, for the plants set seed abundantly, 

 probably as the result of self-fertilisation and the 

 seeds germinate as readily. The colour varies 

 from a pale buff-yellow through pale mauve to 

 deep violet-purple. The flower stems are 

 numerous, and strong plants produce spathes 

 each containing three flowers, so that the display 

 lasts for a considerable time. The foliage is 

 striking, being at its best in late autumn, and 

 then gradually dying off a bright red colour by 

 the time the new growths push up in March. 

 This Iris only grows near the Pacific coast of 

 California. 



Further to the north, in Oregon, is found 

 another beautiful and very floriferous species, 

 I. tenax, which has probably suffered from a 

 suggestion that was once made that it should 

 be cultivated in halt shade in moist soil. These 

 conditions do not suit it at all, for it requires a 

 warm, light soil and some sunshine. Then in 

 June the foliage is literally hidden by the 

 flowers, varying in shade from a pale, pearly 

 grey to the deepest claret purple. Unfortun- 

 ately, it is my experience that after two or 

 three such lavish displays the plants tend to 

 exhaust themselves. Since, however, seed is 

 usually abundant, it is an easy matter to raise 

 fresh hatches of seedlings from time to time. 

 Probably, too, a little care in removing dead 

 flowers and so preventing the formation of seed 

 would tend to prolong the life of the plants. 



I. bractcata and I. Purdyi are an interesting 

 pair of species. Both are, unfortunately, rare, 

 since they object most strongly to any disturb- 

 ance once the plants have reached maturity. 

 In typical specimens of both species the (lowers 

 are yellow veined with crimson purple. The 

 deep green foliage is very scanty and tough, 

 and the chief difference between the two is thai 

 in I. bracteata the perianth tube is quite short 

 and funnel shaped, while in I. Purdyi it is 

 slender and about an inch in length. 



I. macrosiphon, as its name implies, has a 

 long perianth tube three inches in length. It 

 is a very rare plant but one of the most beautiful, 



for it also is very floriferous and produces endless 

 colour forms. The foliage is very narrow and 

 of a curiously glaucous bluish green. 



The somewhat insignificant plant that goes 

 by the name of I. Hartwegii has pale straw 

 coloured flowers of no great merit. It is possible 

 that it is only a local colour form of I. tenax : 

 at any rate a purple-flowered form of it is said 

 to grow in the San Bernardino mountains in 

 Southern California, and I have failed so far to 

 distinguish dried specimens of this from typical 

 I. tenax. 



The two remaining members of this group 

 are I. tenuis and a hitherto unpublished species, 

 probably of little value as a garden plant. 

 Neither has apparently been as yet in cultivation 

 in England, although I hope that I have at last 

 succeeded in obtaining seeds of the latter. 



^* ^* &?* 



'•The Genus Iris," by William Rickatson 



I tykes.just published by 1 lie ( 'ambridge 1'niversil y 

 Press, is a model of what a botanical book, 

 serviceable to the horticulturist, ought to be. 

 There are forty-seven coloured drawings by 

 F. IT. Round, not only beautifully executed, 

 bui exact in botanical details, also thirty line 

 drawings and a coloured plate of seeds. The 

 book is dedicated to the late sir Michael Foster, 

 audit has been said thai the Iris Mantle has now 

 fallen upon Mr. Dykes. The author is not 

 merely a botanist whose knowledge has been 

 gained in the Herbarium, but he is also a collector 

 and a keen gardener. Proof of the latter exists 

 in the fact that all the illustrations in the look, 

 with one exception were taken from plants 

 growing in the open in the author's garden. 

 The work is large and handsome, but the price 

 of six guineas places it beyond the reach of the 



majority. We would like to see a cheaper 

 book giving such descriptions and informal ion, 

 so thai il would be useful to all who take an 

 interest in the beautiful genus of the Iris. 



Cat.anthe Veitchit. 



Tni': increasing popularity of this robust terres- 

 trial Orchid is easily understood, for everyone 



admires the graceful arching spikes, often 2 '.'> feet 



in length, which bear bright rose flowers in such 

 profusion, and the gardener recognises it as a 



plant easily grown and which can brighten the 



dullest period from November to February. 

 As the plants finish blooming they will need a 

 thorough rest, and then will lose their roots. 

 The besl lime to repoi is iii spring when starting 

 into growth : but, contrary to the general Orchid 

 rule, they should be potted below the level of 

 t he rim of t he pot as an or dinar 3 plant. For the 

 loot medium use a substantial mixture of loam. 

 leaf-mould, and dry cow-dung, with some silver 

 sand, or crocks broken small ; careful drainage is 

 an important item. When growing they enjoy 



Strong heat and plenty of atmospheric moisture. 

 and should never lie allowed to gel dry. Weak 

 manure water is of greal help when in vigorotis 

 growth. Scale is verj partial to this plant, and fre- 

 quenl sponging is often necessary to eradicate it. 

 Calanthe Veitchii belongs to the Vestita group 

 of the Calanthes which are deciduous, and is a 

 cross between vestita and rosea. 



