6o 



Commercial Gardening 



reach market at a favourable time good prices are realized. Even in May 

 and June, prices for blooms of Spanish Irises are by no means to be 

 despised, although much lower than for those of earlier indoor crops. 

 Outdoor plants flourish in any good and well -drained garden soil in 

 a warm sunny position. Perhaps the foot of a south wall where Peaches, 

 Nectarines, or other fruit trees are grown is one of the best positions for 

 them; and although the bulbs gradually die out, a crop may be secured 

 for several seasons after the first planting in early autumn. 



Another class of business is done in Spanish Iris. Unopened spikes 

 of bloom from Southern France, &c., find their way to Covent Garden and 



other British markets, and are 

 purchased by market growers, 

 who take them home and open 

 them in the warmth of a o-reen- 



c5 



house, the stems of course being 

 placed in jars of water. In a 

 day or two the blossoms open, 

 and are then taken back and 

 resold to florists and others, 

 leaving the enterprising mar- 

 ketman and the foreigner both 

 more or less satisfied. There 

 are many beautiful kinds of 

 Spanish Irises with fancy 

 names, the colours varying from 

 fine white to white with orange 

 or yellow blotches, and pure 

 yellows, pure blues light and 

 dark, lavender, bronze, &c., 

 many being beautifully fumed 

 or smoked. Some varieties cost 

 much more than others, but good results are obtained from fine mixtures. 



Another Iris in which some trade is done is the variegated form of the 

 Common British Flag (1. pseudacorus). The leaves in spring are beauti- 

 fully variegated with green and gold, and in this state roots sell well for 

 a time owing to the ornamental appearance. During the summer and 

 autumn, however, the variegation gradually disappears, but reappears the 

 following spring with the new leaves. Moist and half-shady spots should 

 be chosen to grow this variegated plant well; also the variegated form of 

 the Glad win or Roast Beef Plant (/. fcetidissima). 



While the Irises mentioned above constitute the bulk of the market 

 grower's stock in trade, many more species are dealt in by hardy plant 

 growers, but of course in comparatively small quantities. The trade, how- 

 ever, is .increasing of late years, as owners of gardens are beginning to 

 recognize the decorative value of the numerous species of Iris, and the 

 oase with which most of them may be grown. These Irises may be 



Fig. 213. English Irises (Iris xipluoide 



