The Iris. 33 



gratulatory occasions, except that, on account of its purple 

 color, it is prohibited from weddings. In arranging- hana- 

 shobu according to the complex theory of flower arrange- 

 ment explained by Mr. Conder, "the three center-most 

 leaves should be long, and a special leaf, called the Kam- 

 inuri-ba or "cap-leaf," must be placed as a background to 

 the principal flowers." 



The iris is a favorite flower in art. Not only do "we 

 find its delicate-colored flowers on stuffs, lacquer, inlaid 

 ivories, and in mother-of-pearl"; but "the metal-worker, 

 too, twists its graceful leaves into delightful patterns for 

 his pierced sword-guards." 



From a pretty crepe booklet on The Japanese Months, 

 we learn the following folk-lore item: 



"There used to be a custom of hanging beneath the 

 eaves, on the 5th day of the 5th month (o. s.), bunches of 

 sweet-flag (shobit) and mugwort, and of putting the for- 

 mer into the hot water of the public baths, so that bathers 

 carry away with them its agreeable odor. The sweet-flag 

 is also steeped in sake, which, flavored in this way. is drunk 

 on the 5th day of the 5th month, the plant in question 

 being commonly believed to be efficacious in the prevention 

 of disease." 



Piggott adds the following points : "Probably the same 

 superstition led to the common custom of planting beds of 

 iris along the ridges of the thatched cottages in the country. 

 In days gone by, boys wore wreaths of iris leaves, and made 

 ropes of them to dance with and beat the ground to frighten 

 away the demons from their festival." 



A famous Japanese poetess, by the name of Kaga no 

 Chiyo, wrote the following pretty little poem: 



"Water was the painter. 

 Water again was the eraser. 

 Of the beautiful fleur-de-lis." 



