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very distinct, indeed powerful odour, which, however, to some 

 persons is not agreeable. 



It is distinctly a winter-flowering plant ; in this country it 

 sends up its bloom (which is often single, though sometimes two 

 or even more flowers appear) soon after the leaves begin to push 

 in October, or later, according to climate and situation. It 

 makes most of its growth in winter, the foliage beginning to die 

 off in April or May. Hence, in all the northern parts of England 

 at least, it cannot be considered hardy in the absence of pro- 

 tection ; the frosts, snow, and winds of winter play havoc with 

 its broad lax leaves, and, left to itself, the plant soon disappears. 

 In the milder southern counties it will thrive, and is there justly 

 appreciated. In my own bleak Eastern Counties garden I find 

 it difficult to grow, even with the protection of a frame, in the 

 absence of artificial heat. But it is a plant which repays some 

 little trouble. 



Well-grown and well-ripened bulbs of I. alata, potted in 

 summer, plunged in cocoa-nut fibre or ashes until they begin to 

 grow, and brought into a cool greenhouse as soon as the nights 

 threaten to become frosty, will flower freely ; but, as a rule, for 

 the first year only. Even when great care is taken to keep 

 them suitably supplied with moisture during and after flowering, 

 and to ripen the bulbs properly by the gradual withholding of 

 water and by full exposure to the sun as soon as their growth 

 is completed, the bloom is uncertain at the second year, and the 

 bulbs soon dwindle. This, at least, is my experience, and I 

 believe that of others ; and the result is the same whether 

 the bulbs be left in the pots or be potted afresh year by year. 

 And the same may, I believe, be said of all the Juno group ; 

 bulbs taken from the open will flower in pots the. first year, 

 but rarely beyond that. To keep up a supply in pelts for the 

 greenhouse recourse must be had yearly to a stock grown in 

 the open. 



When it is desired to increase the stock of a Juno Iris, the 

 small bulbs which appear round the base of the larger bulbs 

 may be separated and planted separately, or a mass of bulbs 

 which has arisen from an original bulb may be divided into 

 its several constituents. In doing this care should be taken 

 to preserve as much as possible the fleshy roots ; but their 

 preservation, though desirable, is not necessary ; bulbs which 



