THE BEST PERENNIALS FOR THE GARDEN 299 



starts very early in the Spring, and in the warm 

 spells of Midwinter the shoots will begin growing. 

 The roots may be moved at any time of the year 

 without the slightest risk. Plant German Iris in 

 clumps along the edges of the beds, alternating it 

 with Japanese Iris; or a border might be made 

 along both sides of a path for ten or twelve feet 

 or so, say one of the paths leading from the Circus. 

 The best colours are Florentina, white and early; 

 Chereau, white; Pallida Speciosa, lavender; Au- 

 ralia, purple; Vesta, deep yellow with maroon falls. 

 The flower is quite stocky and less ethereal than 

 most Flags. This plant will flourish in any soil 

 and is one of the very few that will bloom in the op- 

 pressive grime and soot of the London atmosphere. 

 Whatever beauty the German Iris possesses fades 

 into pale insignificance beside the stately IRIS OF 

 JAPAN (7ns Kaempferi) . The self-coloured flowers 

 of this Flag are like Orchids, more beautiful than 

 Orchids for they lack the painted, artificial appear- 

 ance of the most familiar air plants. They are 

 borne on long stems reaching, under good condi- 

 tions, the height of five feet or more, and blossom 

 the last week in June or the first week in July. 



