IRIS 197 
beloved are these, that there is little need for me to 
describe the big pearly flowers of jlorentina, rising up 
on stalwart spikes above the robust masses of foliage; 
nor the high-bred charm of paillida, twin to germanica in 
shape and size and habit, but bearing flowers of a soft, 
clear lavender blue like that of the Sweet Pea, Countess 
of Radnor. But pallida rises on stepping-stones of itself 
to higher things: pallida dalmatica, pallida Princess 
Beatrice, and pallida Mandraliscae are glorified versions, 
finer even than the type pallida; indeed Mandraliscae, 
with enormous blossoms of that gentle lavender, rising 
high above the greyish sword-like leaves, on towering 
spikes, is, I think, the finest of all the ordinary Garden- 
Irises. Most remarkable of all, too, pallida gives a 
variegated variety which is genuinely beautiful. I only 
know the silver-striped form, but there is also a variation 
with golden stripes. But a well-grown mass of silver- 
stripe is a notable addition to border or large rock-work, 
the pale grey leaves, all slashed and lined with white, con- 
trasting in double beauty against the sheaves of pale 
lavender flowers above. And close to this may well stand 
a robust, beautiful cousin of germanica, Iris Kochi of the 
same ilk, with abundant big flowers of a dense rich violet. 
Nor are any of these varieties at all inferior to the type 
pallida or the type germanica in freedom and vigour 
both of development and blossom. As for florentina, 
the same praise belongs to its robustness and good- 
temper ; it gives no variety that I know, but no one who 
has ever seen it rioting on the edge of Olive gardens in 
Provence will feel a grudge against it for that. Nothing 
could improve upon the type. I have, as I told you, 
married it to my beloved tectorwm, and though last season 
was barren of blossoms, reasonably hope for results this 
year. But a cold terror holds me against my will. Irises, 
it is admitted, hybridise readily, and the seedlings flourish 
