30 THE BOOK OF THE IRIS 



transplanting just when they start into growth." 1 In 

 another note in The Garden of Jan. I, 1898, Mr Purdy 

 tells us his conclusion that /. Douglasiana and /. Purdyi 

 do best in a heavy soil, and handle easily ; but that /. 

 calfornica, I. Hartivegi and all others of the species 

 growing in dry situations and loose soil require perfect 

 drainage, and are best moved dormant. As to the time 

 of moving this may be right for California but certainly 

 in this country /. Hartivegi must be moved in the spring, 

 say in April, as proved both by the late Rev. H. 

 Ewbank and Herr Max Leichtlin. It is a general truth 

 that Irises should be planted when just growing, or 

 immediately about to grow. Mr Purdy shows else- 

 where that his practice is really the same, difference of 

 climate being allowed for. 



B. IRIS LAEVIGATA. 



(7. Kaempferi.) 



THE season of its greatest beauty is usually in the end 

 of June and beginning of July, but by planting in some 

 shade the flowering period may be made to extend to 

 two months. Generally speaking it may be said to do 

 well in rich soil, free from lime, where the roots can 

 find abundant moisture during the season of growth. 

 Mulching is of great value if moisture is likely to fail. 

 The greatest and perhaps most successful grower of 

 this species was the late Mr G. F. Wilson, F.R.S., at 

 the famous Wisley Wood. His own words in the 

 Gardeners' Chronicle of Feb. 1 8th, 1893, P- 2O 4> mav ^ e 

 quoted to show the manner of his cultivation. " Having 

 occasion to take a damp field into the garden, I partially 



1 Subsequently in The Garden Mr Carrington Ley draws attention to 

 some discrepancy of nomenclature between 2. Douglasiana and /. 

 macrosiphon, as understood by Mr Purdy, but as he is here writing on 

 both species the question of cultivation is not affected. 



