PREFACE 



THIS work has been written with two principal aims in 

 view. I have endeavoured, in the first place, to give 

 all the useful information upon culture that is available, 

 and, secondly, to provide an easy and efficient means for 

 the verification of names and for the naming of plants. 

 In the verification of names that happen to be correct 

 there should be no difficulty, but with regard to the 

 naming of plants, it must be remembered that Irises are 

 exceedingly variable. They hybridise both in the 

 garden and in a wild state, and intermediates, or forms 

 not agreeing precisely with any description, are at least 

 liable to be met with. I still hope, however, that 

 naming will be effected in most cases without difficulty. 

 By dividing into small, easily understood groups, and 

 by the construction of keys, I have hoped to provide a 

 special facility. 



The plants included in this work are chiefly those 

 which are believed to be in cultivation or which may at 

 any time be introduced or re-introduced. All references 

 are not given, but chiefly those which are likely to be 

 useful. Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society may 

 often find the figures and books they require in the 

 Lindley Library 1 which, after June 1904, will be found 

 in the New Hall in Vincent Square. Descriptions, 

 whenever possible, are from the plants themselves, but I 

 have to express my great indebtedness to Mr Baker's 

 botanically indispensable Handbook of the Irideae, from 



1 This I mention by kind permission of the Secretary, who character- 

 istically observes, " We desire to be useful." 



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