several years at least in succession. The English Iris, on the 

 other hand, I can only keep alive by careful effort ; as the soil 

 becomes dry in spring and early summer, the foliage becomes 

 pale and lags in growth, yielding only few and feeble flowers. 

 They need far more moisture than they can get by any watering 

 which I can give them. The different circumstances under 

 which the two forms naturally thrive is indicated by their 

 manner of growth. The Spanish Iris begins to shoot in late 

 autumn, and the foliage has reached some height before winter 

 sets in ; from which we may perhaps infer that in its native 



FIG. 18. IRIS JUNCEA. 



home it has little to fear from the soddening effects of a wet 

 winter. The English Iris, on the other hand, does not spear 

 until winter is practically over ; in its native wet habitat it has 

 learnt to avoid winter growth. Hence, as a rule, in every garden 

 it is only either the Spanish Iris or the English Iris which will 

 flourish without special care ; and one of the golden rules of 

 gardening, " Grow the plants for which your surroundings are 

 fitted," may be applied very forcibly here. If he whose garden 

 is adapted to the English Iris wishes to grow the Spanish one, 



