YJ: FAMILIAR FLOWERS OF FIELD AND GARDEN. 



although how aud when still remain historically un- 

 certain ; but as early as the time of Charles TV 

 the fleur-de-lis began to appear on the banners of 

 France. I have drawn the conventional form of 

 the flower, so our wild specimen may be compared 

 with it. However, the French emblem was copied 

 from a cultivated species whose inner perianth di- 

 visions were large and stood in a nearly perpen- 

 dicular position ; our wild specimen lacks this im- 

 portant climax to its beauty, and slightly resembles 

 the K(X7)i2jferi (Japanese) iris, which is quite flat 

 in figure. The iris is admirably adapted to decora- 

 tive design, and the wonder is that some of our 

 artistic young ladies who are so skillful with the 

 needle do not employ it oftener in embroidery ; 

 the opportunity here for a charming harmony of 

 blues and greens is immeasurable. Blue wild flow- 

 ers are not plentiful, and the perpetuation in our 

 memories of this one seems to me especially de- 

 sirable. 



There is a slender blue flag (/. Yirginica), with 

 very narrow leaves, which is also common in swamps. 

 It must be remembered that blue flag is not Calamus, 

 although the latter is called sweet flag ; this belongs 

 to the Arum family, and is therefore a relation of 

 Jack-in-the-pulpit. Its botanical name is Acorus 

 Calamus. 



