CHAPTER XIX 



THIRD WEEK IN MAY 



THERE is a fascination about irises which is somewhat 

 kin to that experienced by the orchid-grower ; their 

 rich and varied tints, elegant forms, and, in many 

 cases, delicate fragrance place them in the first rank of our 

 garden flowers; whilst they are mostly hardy, needing no 

 great skill to grow them, and no hot-house in which to 

 winter. Yet how rarely are our gardens well furnished with 

 these plants ! A few of the Spanish irises (xiphion), the 

 germanica varieties (I. barbata), and perhaps the so-called 

 English iris (xiphioides) may be found there no doubt ; but 

 of the rarer irises, lovely as many of them are, one can only 

 say that they are usually conspicuous by their absence. It is 

 of a few of these that we now write, for there are many 

 irises which should be added to our collections which are 

 but little known, and yet merit a place in every 

 garden. 



Such, for instance, is the stately white iris of Italy (I. floren- 

 tina), the plant which furnishes us with the scent of violets, 

 which is obtained from its roots, and is so largely used in the 

 violet-powder of commerce. " Orris "-root, as it is called, 

 is probably a corruption of the word " iris " (easily obtained 

 through the broad speech of sailors), and it is largely 

 imported from the city of Florence, where large tracts 

 of land are covered with these lovely blossoms in milky 

 white, just touched in the centre of the falls with golden 

 yellow, and having an orange beard. It is a distinct species, 



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