Garden Notes. 



435 



GARDEN NOTES. 



/. Crojiin. hispector Vegetation Diseases Aets. 



The Iris. 



Iris is a genus uf bull)Ous and herl>aceous plants found native in 

 various parts of Europe, Asia. Africa, and America. Tliere is a large 

 number of species, manv of which have been cultivated in European gar- 

 dens for centuries, and from which garden forms that are superior in many 

 ways to the types from which they originated have been raised by inter- 

 crossing and selection. The types being so numerous, and the geographical 

 distributiiiii so widr, flowers of some sp>ecies or varieties of iris may be 



IRIS STVLOSA ALKA. 



IRIS FLORENTINA PURPUREA. 



seen in bloom at almost any season of the year, and under most varying 

 conditions. Some kinds require a warm dry situation, with abundance 

 of light and sunshine, while others are denizens of swamps, and require 

 moist and shaded conditions to bring them to perfection!. The flowers of 

 most species are very beautiful, and are extensi\'ely used for decoration in 

 Europe, where, in addition to the varieties grown in the flower garden, 

 bulbous kinds are grown in pots and forced into flower premattireh- in 

 heated glass houses. Orris root, used in medicine and perfumerv. is 

 derived from Iris -ftoreiitiiia a species worthy of culture as a garden 

 plant. 



Irises are divided intO' se\eral sections, but for the purpose of these 

 notes it is sufiicient to mention the principal groups only. The most 

 generally grown in this State are the Flag irises {Iris Germaniea and its 



