60 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



Many of them are bulbous-rooted ; of these we shall treat in 

 this place, reserving the fibrous and most of the tuberous- 

 rooted to describe under the head of herbaceous perennials. 

 One of the most esteemed bulbous-rooted Iris, is the Persian, 

 on account of the beauty and fragrance of its flowers. It is 

 also very early, but not perfectly hardy. It is valued for forc- 

 ing, as a few of its flowers will scent a whole room ; their 

 colors are pale sky-blue, purple, yellow, and sometimes white. 

 The Spanish Iris, or I. zipkium, is a very pretty border flower, 

 of many varieties, all rich and elegant ; embracing the most 

 delicate shades of light and dark blue, brown, purple, yellow, 

 and white. Many of the varieties are various colored, striped 

 or spotted ; the bulbs are small, tooth-like, sending forth rush- 

 like foliage, with flowers in June, on stems about eighteen 

 inches high. These bulbs, as well as the other species named 

 here, should be planted about two and a half inches deep, in a 

 light and rich garden soil ; the proper time is in October and 

 November, and, excepting L susiana, need not be taken up 

 oftener than once in three years. 



The English Iris, or /. xiphioides, is somewhat similar to the 

 last, but more robust in its growth ; the bulbs are larger, and 

 the stem two feet or more high, producing its flowers in June, 

 which are as various in color as the Spanish, and as desirable 

 for the border. 



Iris chalcedonica, or L susiana, is one of the most beautiful 

 of the race ; it is not a bulbous root, but tuberous, imported 

 with the bulbous kinds from Holland, and planted at the same 

 time, and manner, except the soil should be of a more loamy 

 character. It has the largest flowers of any of the species, and 

 the most magnificent of them all. The colors of the flowers 

 are of various shades of the richest purplish brown, beautifully 

 mottled and spotted, so as to give it a very rich and unique 

 appearance. It produces its flowers in June, on stems a foot 

 high. It may be increased by parting the roots in autumn. 

 This splendid flower is reputed to be tender ; but I have suc- 

 ceeded in planting it in October and November, and even in 



