200 ALPINES AND BOG-PLANTS 
not easily to be surpassed. As for the Irises of the 
tubergeniana group—sindjarensis, willmottiana, orchi- 
oeides—for these I should never have any use, not even if 
I dwelt in Paradise and found the winters suitable. 
These Irises are all of a densely leafy habit, and, from 
the spire of flopping foliage, pierce flowers which, by 
comparison, are insignificant and dull. Jris minuta and 
Iris arenaria are novelties yet, of which I have no chance 
to speak. Minuta is but newly arrived from Japan, and 
I expect more from it in the way of health and charm 
than I do from the sand-craving arenaria, which, from 
its habit, threatens to be an abhorrer of damp. 
The Ivises of the grass-leaved group are rather incal- 
culable than difficult. The first in importance is Jris 
unguicularis, more commonly known as Iris stylosa. Few 
plants differ more in habit according to circumstances. 
In the South of France you will see it used as the edging 
to beds on the blazing Mediterranean slope of Provence, 
and there its foliage sinks into utter minute insignificance, 
and the whole edging is a solid line of what looks like 
magnified brilliant blossoms of crocus iridiflorus, dowered 
with a delicious fragrance to which the Crocus is a 
stranger. Then, again, you will see Iris wnguicularis 
thriving in an English garden, making a tall, close 
jungle of leaves, lush and lanky enough to be confused 
with the dishevelled clumps of the common Gladwin. 
And there, far down in the thicket, nestle here and there 
the wide sweet lavender cups of blossom. In point of 
fact, the intense heat and sunlight of the south are the 
plant’s favourite conditions, minimising leafage, and 
educing the most reckless generosity in the matter of 
bloom. But IJris unguicularis is of accommodating 
temper, and, with any fair treatment, in good light soil, 
in an open position, sheltered from the worst violence of 
the wind, it will prosper and develop as imperturbably 
