THIRD WEEK IN JANUARY 



being successfully grown at Kew ; atro-coerulea is in deeper 

 tints of lilac than the type, and the rare variety cupreata is 

 in copper colour. 



An interesting hybrid between two members of the Juno 

 irises (i.e., I. sindjarensis and I. persica) is named I. sindpers, 

 a plant which partakes of the nature of both parents ; for 

 whilst it is more dwarf than I. sindjarensis, it produces 

 several blooms on one stem somewhat in the same way 

 as that parent, although the colour (a pale blue, slightly 

 blotched with black and deep yellow) partially resembles 

 that of either plant. I. sindjarensis is one of the most 

 beautiful of all, in sky-blue; it is hardy in a light soil, 

 flowering well in the open ground in March; but it may 

 also be successfully grown in a pot, when its rare and 

 delicate colour is very useful in the conservatory. 



A handsome companion to the last is I. bucharica, 

 with very similar foliage, rather resembling that of the 

 leek, creamy white standards, and deep yellow falls ; a most 

 effective flower of recent introduction from the mountain 

 slopes of Eastern Bokhara. It is easily managed in a pot if 

 planted sufficiently early ; in a mild climate it does well in 

 the iris border, which receives the protection of a glass 

 frame sloping from the south wall behind the plants. I. 

 Fosteriana is another interesting Juno iris, which is curious 

 and rare, with blossoms in purple and gold. It comes from 

 Afghanistan, and receives its name from that of the late Sir 

 Michael Foster, the great authority on these plants, who has 

 done so much to popularise them. 



One of the special needs of many irises is to be left alone 

 when once happily established in congenial quarters, and 

 this is especially true of that most valuable of winter flowers 

 Iris unguicularis (syn. stylosa), which will provide an abund- 

 ance of beautiful and fragrant blooms for cutting from 

 November until April if well grown in a position which 

 suits its requirements. This is usually to be found in every 

 garden, for it only needs poor, gravelly soil, well drained, 

 and a place at the foot of a sheltered south wall, where it 

 will be extremely dry and thoroughly roasted by the summer 



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