146 IRISES [CH. 



Persia, and is, therefore, somewhat tender, but in warm, 

 sheltered spots succeeds well enough with us. The flowers 

 are white, tinted with pale Prussian blue, and blotched 

 with purple. 



/. reticulate (Netted Iris) is one of the loveliest of 

 hardy flowers. While the snow is on the ground in 

 December or January its leaves begin to push up, and 

 the bud opens with three violet segments and a gold 

 crest on each. When the flowers have faded the leaves 

 grow a foot high. The species comes from Palestine 

 and the Caucasus, and there are several varieties. They 

 are absolutely hardy, and may be planted wherever the 

 Crocus grows. 



/. juncea (Rush-leaved Flag) is a native of Spain and 

 North Africa. It is one of the best of the bulbous Irises, 

 and as easily grown as the English. It has bright golden- 

 yellow flowers and a very sweet fragrance. It thrives 

 all the better where it can be kept dry during winter. 



All the bulbous sorts need an antumn drought to 

 ripen them, and a dry soil in winter in which to preserve 

 the bulbs and keep them at rest, while in spring, when 

 the leaves are pushing up, they love moderate rain. 



A great point is not to meddle with the bulbs as 

 long as the plants are doing well, and when it is necessary 

 to transplant (when the soil is exhausted, and the 

 bulbs too close), they ought not to be allowed to become 

 shrivelled or dried up. 



These hardy bulbs require to be planted in thoroughly 

 drained beds, in very light, open soil, moderately enriched, 



