CULTIVATION 31 



drained it by means of a wide ditch, on the banks of 

 which were planted seedling Rhododendrons, and on 

 the sloping sides, down to the water's edge, about 700 

 clumps of seedling Japanese Irises ; and the field itself 

 proving wetter than was expected, was planted with 

 between 3000 and 4000 more clumps of the seedling 

 Irises, and according to present appearances there is 

 every probability of my being able, about the end of 

 June,? to send you a photograph much in the style of 

 your picture." The picture here referred to is that of 

 a Japanese plantation, on p. 169 of the preceding week's 

 issue. Mr Wilson's hope was no doubt justified, and 

 in the Chronicle of Oct. 2 1st of the same year appeared a 

 charming view. Mr Wilson's experience was that the 

 plants thrive with water actually at the roots during 

 winter, but the better practice is probably to flood 

 during summer once in twenty-four hours where that 

 can be done, leaving the ground only moist for the 

 winter. A ditch with the end capable of being blocked 

 would no doubt provide the means admirably, but in 

 many gardens it would be easy no doubt to plant in low 

 beds which can be flooded at will. 



Messrs Boehmer and Co., of Yokohama, who have 

 large fields under cultivation, recommend very rich clay 

 soil with plenty of water during the growing season, 

 which with them extends from April to June. They 

 recommend that the water shall be an inch deep over 

 the soil during the growing season, but turned off 

 during the night. In winter they say the roots should 

 be kept almost quite dry. This certainly is not 

 necessary in this country, and it may be pointed out that 

 moisture provided, perhaps also with the absence of 

 lime this Iris succeeds under some variation of treat- 

 ment. One cultivator recommends the removal of the 

 kind of soil desired by Messrs Boehmer & Co., and uses 

 a compost of half peat, half leaf mould, with manure a 



