viii PREFACE 



which I have freely drawn all the information I required, 

 and also to his series of articles in the Gardeners 1 

 Chronicle of 1876. In the bulbous sections I am 

 very largely indebted to Sir Michael Foster's valu- 

 able work on that division of the genus, published 

 by the Royal Horticultural Society, and through- 

 out the genus, for his species, I have usually referred 

 to his original descriptions. Synonyms I have given 

 only when it seemed desirable, a large number serving 

 no purpose in a book of this description. It will be 

 found that I have sometimes disregarded botanical 

 affinity in my arrangement, for the sake of easy refer- 

 ence, but for this I may, no doubt, be forgiven. For 

 specimens, kindly sent me at different times, I have 

 especially to thank Messrs P. Barr & Sons, Mrs Ewbank, 

 Mr Amos Perry, Messrs Wallace & Co., and Mr C. G. 

 Van Tubergen, jun. I have to thank Mr E. Allard, 

 my foreman of the Indoor Department, for almost all the 

 photographs herein reproduced. All newer Irises up to 

 the end of 1903 I have included or referred to. I may 

 here remark that a number of the more recent novelties 

 require to be brought to the notice of some competent 

 authority, when in flower, for proper determination and 

 description. I should be glad to hear from any reader 

 on points of interest or importance. 



*' All faults I make, when I shall come to know them 

 I do repent." Winter's Tale, iii. 2. 



R. IRWIN LYNCH. 



BOTANIC GARDEN, 



CAMBRIDGE, 

 Dec. $lst, 1903. 



