

CULTIVATION 37 



beds with the maximum dose and on the first bed, which 

 contained only 1 1 Ibs. of marl and 5^ Ibs. of magnesite. 

 Lime is the great thing, magnesia is not so much wanted. 



Mr Hoog continues to say that when the rhizomes 

 were lifted in July they were found to correspond with 

 the fine leaf growth the plants had made. Some culti- 

 vators in this" country, including the late Rev. H. 

 Ewbank, have strongly objected to lifting the rhizomes, 

 but here Mr Hoog gives his reason for doing it in 

 Holland. " On our ever-moist Dutch soil I had found 

 it necessary to take up the rhizomes of the Oncocyclus 

 Irises every year after the growth is finished in July, for 

 if we do not do so the moist sub-soil causes the rhizomes 

 to start growing again at once, so that when winter sets 

 in the plants have tender young shoots, from three to 

 four inches long, and these inevitably fall a prey to frost, 

 or get damped off if the winter is moist and misty." 

 Formerly Mr Hoog advocated late planting, but now he 

 finds it better to plant when the roots taken up in July 

 have had five weeks' rest. He remarks that the 

 Oncocycli left for trial in the ground of the marl and 

 magnesite-treated beds did not suffer and came through 

 the winter splendidly. 



Mr R. Wallace, of Messrs R. Wallace & Co., gives 

 me their particular points in the culture of Oncocyclus 

 Irises as follows : With us they require lights put over 

 the bed very soon after flowering, and then, later on, 

 we lift them and cover with dry soil and store in a 

 dry shed, planting about November. If we leave them 

 in the ground they start too early into growth. 



Messrs P. Barr & Son give their views in the follow- 

 ing words : These (Irises of the Oncocyclus and 

 Regelia sections) are best planted in December if the 

 roots can be kept in good condition and from growing 

 until that time. They should be stored in a cool and 

 dry place. Plant so that the tops are not more than 



