32 THE BOOK OF THE IRIS 



fourth part of the whole. Yet another cultivator 

 recommends light loam with equal parts of peat and 

 leaf soil. Returning again to the point that this Iris 

 will succeed under varying conditions, it is worth 

 pointing out that on Long Island it succeeds under con- 

 ditions the reverse of aquatic, viz., on a gravelly knoll 

 in full sun, but it may be taken for granted, I think, 

 that moisture is within easy reach of the roots ; but, 

 with heavy mulchings, even a dry soil is worth trying 

 if no other can be provided. It is worth note that 

 shelter and protection from keen east winds is desir- 

 able. 



In The Garden of Feb. 18, 1899, P- IO 5> ' 1S gi yen a 

 beautiful illustration of the Iris garden at Horikiri, 

 Tokio, from photograph sent by Messrs L. Boehmer & 

 Co., of Yokohama. Mr E. Jenkins, a clever cultivator 

 and the writer of the accompanying article, says he 

 never uses peat, and strongly condemns the practice of 

 saturation with water. "What the plants really prefer 

 is a condition where plenty of rich food is present for 

 the roots. I once knew a disused gravel hole planted 

 with these things. In this, old potting soil and refuse 

 had accumulated to the depth of two feet. The success 

 of these plants while they remained, during six years 

 or more, was phenomenal. For many years these plants 

 were a complete success with me, in a soil that in hot 

 and dry summers became dust-dry to a considerable 

 depth. This success I attributed to the very liberal 

 way in which the soil was manured. Cow manure 

 was that employed, and the cooling nature of it 

 suited the plant exactly." With Mr G. F. Wilson at 

 Wisley this Iris used to grow well almost anywhere. 

 Mr Dixon, of Astle Hall, Cheford, records that with 

 him the best he has are growing in water I to ij ft. 

 deep, but that the plants must be well established 

 before planting to this depth. The water rat he finds 



