IRIS. 207 



The poet seems not to have been acquainted with the 

 Persian Iris, which has so fine a perfume. 



Spenser also distinguishes the Flower-de-luce from the 

 Lily, though acknowledging the connexion : 



" The Lilly, lady of the flowering field. 

 The Flower-de-luce, her lovely paramour. 

 Bid thee to them thy fruitless labours yield. 

 And soon leave off this toilsome weary stour: 

 Lo ! lo ! how brave she decks her bounteous bower 

 With silken curtains, and gold coverlets. 

 Therein to shroud her sumptuous balamour ; 

 Yet neither spins, nor card, ne cares, nor frets. 

 But to her mother Nature all her cares she lets." 



Mrs. C. Smith gives a lively picture of the Yellow, or 

 Water Iris. 



" Amid its waving swords, in flaming gold 

 The Iris towers ." 



IXIA. 



GLADIOLEE. TRIANDRIA MONOGYNrfi. 



There are many species of Ixia, varying in colour: 

 they have bulbous roots, and may be increased by their 

 offsets ; but they will not flower well if parted oftener than 

 every third year. In the autumn the stalks and leaves de- 

 cay; the roots should then be put under shelter for the 

 winter, unless it is designed to remove them ; in which 

 case they may be treated in the same manner as the Hya- 

 cinth, and bulbs in general, and may be replanted any time 

 between October and January. They may stand abroad 

 in the summer, and should then have a little water every 

 evening : they should be sparingly watered in winter, when 

 left in the earth. Pots three inches in diameter, and five 



