8 THE BOOK OF THE IRIS 



often be found in flower in the spring, and these are not 

 limited to bulbous Irises, but include some of the smaller 

 of the Pogoniris group. Forcing is not usually to be 

 recommended, indeed bulbous Irises cannot be said to 

 force, but some others may be had in flower long before 

 they could flower out-of-doors. Some allies of /. 

 germanica I have forced for strictly botanical purposes, 

 and have found that they bear a temperature of 60 or 

 65 very well. 



In the arrangement of an Iris garden for ornamental 

 effect, much must depend upon individual taste as well 

 as upon the surroundings. Irises are usually much the 

 more effective if they are planted in groups or masses 

 of the same kind. A line of a large growing handsome 

 form in front of a hedge looks extremely well, and fairly 

 large beds of selected kinds are very effective. Those 

 of the Pumila group may be massed in beds and L pumila 

 caerulea, for instance, is capable of forming a most attrac- 

 tive sheet of colour. Long beds on grass are not only 

 effective but very convenient ; if about six feet wide the 

 plants are easily reached from either side. As a rule it 

 is desirable to avoid any mixture of kinds which flower 

 at different times, or which vary in stature and habit. 

 Irises are exceedingly lovely for vases, and some of the 

 best should always be within reach from a gravel path, 

 so that buds for opening in water may be cut at any 

 time without treading on wet grass. Open flowers may 

 be gathered, but the most perfect flowers are often those 

 which expand indoors. 



It should hardly be necessary to advocate either care- 

 ful labelling or the adoption of a good label, for much 

 of the pleasure of the garden is lost if names are not 

 preserved. Wood labels do very well for pots, if 

 renewed when necessary, but for out-door use they are not 

 sufficiently durable. Porcelain is too easily broken ; 

 cast zinc labels or stamped zinc labels are exceedingly 



