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be taken up, separated, and planted out as quickly as 
possible ; the longer they are left out of ground the weaker 
they become, and the later they will come into bloom. 
In starting a new bed, the corms should be planted as 
soon as they can be obtained, which is usually about the 
first of September. If left until November, as is the too 
common practice, very few will flower strongly the com- 
ing season, and none satisfactorily. When left in the 
ground they commence new life about the first of Sep- 
tember, and before Winter they have their preparations 
for Spring work complete; the flower buds will be nearly 
their full length above the bulk ready for their first sunny 
day in February to break forth into bloom. The position 
for the Crocus bed should be warm. Crocus Sativus, 
which is the type of the Autumnal flowering species, 
should be planted in mid-Summer, and it will bloom in 
September. All the species and varieties are increased 
by offsets. Their introduction into British gardens dates 
back as far as 1600. There are at present many new 
named varieties, all of which are very fine, and great 
improvements on the older kinds. 
THE IRIS. 
Thou art the [ris fair among the fairest, 
Who, armed with golden rod © 
And winged with the celestial azure, 
Bearest the message of some god. 
\7 HARLY everyone admires the common Iris, but it is 
=" not everyone who is aware of the beauty and the 
delight that may be found in the many members of the 
family now in cultivation. Taking them all through, no 
other class of hardy flowers possesses that union of grace 
and outline with delicacy of coloring, which is the charm 
