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at the base of a tuft of short green leaves, present a very pleasing 

 sight, and I can well imagine that a mass of the plant would be 

 extremely charming. The flower, moreover, has the merit of 

 being deliciously fragrant. When an adequate stock of the 

 plants has been obtained, it will, I venture to think, become a 

 great favourite. 



And now my tale is quite ended. Some of the flowers of 

 which I have spoken are of extreme beauty ; to my mind at least, 

 /. reticulata and I. Bosenbachiana, in their best forms, present- 

 ing two different types of beauty, are surpassed by few other 

 flowers, and many of the others, especially I. alata, are very 

 charming. But it is obvious from what I have said that in 

 ordinary gardens these bulbous Irises, with the exception perhaps 

 of /. xiphium, I. xiphioides, and I. orchioides, cannot be grown 

 successfully without special care. They cannot be left alone to 

 take care of themselves ; in the struggle for existence they make, 

 as a rule, but a poor fight. They cannot combat with vigorous 

 perennials, or withstand the inroads of the pushing roots of 

 trees and shrubs. If they are to be grown well, they must have 

 a place for themselves, and in most cases their special wants 

 must be carefully supplied. 



