516 



IRIS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



IRIS. 



I. PARADOXA. A singular Cushion Iris, 

 native of W. Persia and the Caucasus, and 

 fitly called " paradoxical." The fall is 

 reduced to a narrow strap half an inch or 

 less in width, but the standard is large, 

 erect, and while the small fall is stout and 

 firm, almost leathery, is delicate and 

 flimsy in texture. The ground colour of 

 the claw is a rich crimson or deep pink, 

 but beneath the claw and for some little 

 distance in front of it the crimson hue is 

 all but entirely hid by numerous short 

 dark purple, almost black, hairs, so thickly 

 set as to imitate velvet very closely indeed. 

 The plant varies much in size and colour, 

 and the effect of the flower is very striking. 



I. PERSICA (Persian Iris). One of the 

 most charming of the early kinds, it 

 deserves a place wherever the soil is warm 

 and dry. Its flowers, produced from a 

 tuft of bright green leaves that just peep 

 over the soil, are white, suffused with pale 

 Prussian blue, and blotched with velvety 

 purple. It is somewhat tender, but in 

 warm sheltered spots, in light sandy soil, 

 succeeds, and flowers in winter and spring. 



I. PSEUDO-ACORUS (Common Water 

 Flag). Common as is this Flag, every one 

 who has grown it fairly will admit its 

 beauty. Whoever has in his garden a 

 pond or a ditch, or even a thoroughly 

 damp spot, ought to plant this Flag. 



Iris fallida. 



I. PUMILA (Dwarf Flag). The best of 

 the dwarf Flags, for tp it we owe the many 

 lovely varieties that 'give us such a rich 



display of bloom in spring. It grows from 

 4 to 8 inches high, and has deep violet 

 flowers, unusually large for its size. There 

 are several named varieties, the most 

 attractive being the sky-blue (casrulea), 

 which in early spring forms sheets of bright 

 colour edgings in free soil. 



I. RETICULATA (Netted Iris). One of 

 the most beautiful of hardy flowers. 

 While the snow is still on the ground in 

 January, or even earlier its leaves begin 

 to shoot, and while these are only a few 

 inches high, the bud opens to the pale 

 wintry sun a beauty of violet and gold. 

 After the flower has faded, the erect narrow 

 leaves grow to a height of i foot or more. 

 The plant comes from some parts of the 

 Caucasus and from Palestine, and there 

 are several varieties. Krelagei may be 

 recognised by flowers of a purple or plum 

 colour, with the yellow marking less vivid ; 

 the whole flower is smaller, also less 

 fragrant ; in fact, is almost wholly without 

 scent, and it flowers ten or fourteen days 

 earlier. An exquisite gem is I. r. cyanea, 

 which is very bright in colour, a slaty blue, 

 and dwarf. Sophonensis, with red-purple 

 flowers and a bold crest, is a native of 

 Asia Minor, and blooms in early February. 

 /. r. purpurea, a small variety with deep 

 purple flowers, is pleasing. There are 

 also many beautiful hybrids, Cantab being 

 one of the most charming. A sunny 

 sheltered spot is, however, advisable, that 

 its tall narrow leaves may after flowering 

 be protected from the wind. Sandy soil 

 will do, but it is not particular in this 

 respect. Sometimes, however, it refuses 

 to grow, and in damp places the bulbs rot 



