630 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



of white, blue, and reddish-purple, some 

 splashed and streaked, others with clear 

 decided colours, formidable rivals to the 

 Iris Kcempferi, which they closely re- 

 semble in shape and pose of flower, 

 but of dwarfer habit. I find them quite 

 hardy here at Colchester planted out in 

 light soil, with plenty of sand round the 

 bulbs. They increase rapidly, and are 

 best taken up and divided about every 

 two years, at the beginning of August 

 when the bulbs are at rest. Starting 

 again into growth early, they should not 

 be planted after the middle of November, 

 otherwise success will l^e less certain." 



rule of not meddling over-much applies 

 distinctly to the Spanish Iris, as the new 

 roots begin to shoot out almost before the 

 old stalk has withered, and the bulb must 

 not be kept out of the ground. Plant, 

 then, the Spanish Iris in clumps on some 

 rich, loose, friable plot, where their bright 

 colour may be shown to advantage, and 

 let them stay there year after year until 

 the dwindling foliage tells you that they 

 have exhausted their soil. The beautiful 

 varieties of Spanish Iris are well worth a 

 place in the reserve garden for supplying 

 cut flowers. 



ISOPYRUM.— A graceful little plant 



I. Xiphium {Spanish Iris). — A very 

 beautiful flower, and an old inhabitant of 

 gardens. The prevailing colours are blue, 

 with various shades of purple or violet, 

 yellow, and white. The blue tints of the 

 cultivated seedlings seem to be derived 

 from the typical Spanish plant ; the yellow 

 hues may be traced to the Portuguese 

 variety, sometimes known as /. hisilanica. 



The Spanish Iris must not be water- 

 logged in autumn and winter, preferring 

 a loose, friable, sandy soil, which, how- 

 ever, should not be too poor, for it repays 

 feeding with thoroughly rotten leaf-mould 

 or manure. Sun it must have, but as its 

 slender stalks suffer from winds it should 

 have shelter without shade. The golden 



allied to the Meadow Rues, but /. thalic- 

 troides has prettier white flowers, and is 

 valuable for its Maiden-hair Fern-like foli- 

 age. It is well suited for the rock-garden, 

 and for the front edge of the mixed border, 

 is hardy, and easy to grow on any soil. 

 Division or seed. Europe. Ranunculacea;. 

 ISOTOMA.— /. axillaris is a showy 

 half-hardy plant, resembling some of the 

 dwarfer Lobelias, its growth dense and 

 compact, the flowers ^ in. across, star- 

 shaped, and of a pale blue, continuing a 

 long time, even till cut off by frosts. If 

 preserved in a frame during winter, after 

 the manner of bedding Lobelias, it is 

 perennial, and may be propagated in spring 

 by cuttings. New Holland. 



