164 BULBS AND TUBE:.0US-ROOTED PLANTS. 
or coarse litter in autumn. It is not at all particular as 
to soil, preferring a rather heavy and moist one, but will 
give great satisfaction in any soil or situation. The 
tubers may be planted, either in spring or early autumn, 
the latter being preferable, as they start very early in 
the spring. Plant about a foot apart each way, and they 
will soon completely cover the ground. Propagation is 
by division, or from seed. The rapidity with which plants 
can be produced from seed, and the great variation of 
color in the seedlings, none of which are poor, has been 
the means of increasing this class to an almost unlimited 
extent. A choice of these the buyer must make for 
himself, color or combination being the principal object, 
there being a marked uniformity in the size of the plants. 
I. cristata (Crested).—This is a native American 
species of very dwarf habit, abundant in the mountain 
regions of Virginia, Kentucky and southward. The 
flowers are a delicate lilac, with yellow throat, and finely 
crested, appearing eurly in May. Asa border plant it 
has no superior; it is perfectly hardy and wonderfully 
floriferous. It is rapidly increased by division, and wi | 
thrive anywhere. There are more than fifty other spe- 
cies of this tuberous-rooted class. 
Japanese Iris (/ris levigata, I. Kempfert).—This 
forms a distinct type, and is the most valuable of 
the genus for garden decoration. The plants are per- 
fectly hardy, and strong growers. The flower stalks, if 
planted in good scil, will grow fully four feet high, with 
abundance of bloom. The flowers are proportionately 
large ; they open perfectly flat, are from six to ten inches 
in diameter, some single, some double, in various shades 
of color; pure white, dark purple, maroon, violet and 
plum, with very distinct pencilmgs and markings; 
some are strangely and beautifully marbled. To have 
these in perfection the soil should be moist, deep and 
rick They are gross feeders, but pay for their keeping. 
