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One of the most esteemed of the bulbous rooted Irises, 

 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 flowering in the green-house, or sitting- 

 room. A few of its flowers will scent a whole room ; the 

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



I. Xiphium. — The Spanish Iris, is a handsome border- 

 flower, with bulbous roots, perfectly hardy, embracing the 

 most delicate shades of light and dark-blue, brown, pur- 

 ple, yellow, and white, and variously colored, striped and 

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

 rush-like foliage, flowering in June ; stems about eighteen 

 inches high. The bulbs of this and the English Iris should 

 be planted in autumn, about two and one-half inches 

 deep in any good garden soil. The bulbs need not be 

 taken up oftener than once in three years. 



I. xyphioides. — The English Iris, is somewhat similar 

 to the last, but more robust in growth; the bulbs are 

 larger ; the stem two feet high, producing its flowers in 

 June ; colors as various as in the Spanish, and as desirable 

 for the border. 



L Sambucina. — Elder-scented Iris.— A very beautiful 

 species, with brilliant, 23ale-blue, variegated flowers, on 

 stems four feet high, with many flowers, standing 

 above the foliage; the foliage is long and narrow, or 

 more grass-like than the common tuberous sorts. The 

 roots of it are of a more fibrous character than in most 

 of the genus, and mat together so hard, that they are 

 with difficulty separated. A clump of tliis, with its nu- 

 merous rich flowers and graceful foliage, makes as much 

 show as any other plant of the season ; last of June. 



I. pseudacorus. — The Yellow Iris of England, has 

 handsome yellow flowers; in June; two to three feet 

 in height. 



