IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



Such a group of irises is very handsome at the side of the 

 lawn ; for they grow tall, and their flowers, some of which are 

 8 or 9 inches across, are very conspicuous at a distance, the 

 surrounding sward setting them off to the best advantage. At 

 the bottom of the tub (in which should be one or two small 

 holes to allow of the gradual escape of water) we place 6 

 inches of drainage, broken crocks of glass, china, &c. (which 

 can usually be found in plenty in every house, unfortunately), 

 covered with cinders and ashes. Over the drainage we 

 place rough pieces of peat, not too small, and on these the 

 soil which is specially needed for the bog plants grown in 

 the tub. In the case of these irises a compost of good loam, 

 cow manure, and leaf mould is the most suitable soil ; and 

 they are mulched yearly in spring, just as they begin to 

 appear, with plenty of cow manure. They do best when 

 undisturbed for two or three years. If they then show signs 

 of having exhausted the soil, they should be taken up in 

 October, divided, and replanted. 



There is much to be done now in supporting the carnation 

 blossoms, which are not easy to keep in order. Porter's 

 coil stakes have the merit of avoiding the stiff appearance 

 which is given by ordinary sticks. They are painted light 

 green (of the same tint as the stems of carnations), and do 

 not attract the eye ; moreover, no tying process is necessary 

 where these are used. But if green-dyed wooden stakes or 

 ordinary sticks are preferred, West's green raffiatape is 

 decidedly superior to the usual raffia, being neater, stronger, 

 and excellent in every way. It is sold on reels, too, with a 

 convenient hook, by which the reel can be attached to 

 a buttonhole of the coat, so as to be readily available for use. 



Some of the finest of the newer carnations are the follow- 

 ing : King Solomon, in ruby velvet ; Daffodil, yellow ; 

 Francis Samuelson, rich apricot ; Lady Hermione, bright 

 rose colour ; Midas, apricot flushed with scarlet ; Cassar 

 and Pompey, a handsome fancy carnation in scarlet and 

 maroon ; Miss Wilmott, coral-pink ; Duchess of Wellington, 

 deep lavender ; Carabas, pink ; Amphion, a specially good 

 yellow-ground picotee ; Mr. Nigel, a picotee with deep 



254 



