THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



Feb. The Japanese Iris. — With the Lily bulbs which they 



15-28 send over in enormous quantities at mid-winter, the 

 Japanese send clumps of their wonderful Kaempfer Iris, 

 which has huge, flat flowers as big as the largest Clema- 

 tises. Botanists call the plant Iris Laevigata, having 

 deposed the old name of Kaempferi. They are rather 

 partial to changing names, and often cause the amateur 

 a good deal of bewilderment, but they mean well. 

 Hardy plantsmen want to get the Japanese Iris called 

 the Clematis-flowered Iris, and the name is apt, but 

 unfortunately it adds another to an already goodly list. 

 One may buy clumps of Japanese Irises at from half- 

 a-crown to five shillings a dozen, according to size. 

 Named varieties are dearer, but, as most of the names 

 are Japanese, very few people can pronounce them or 

 say what they mean. In these circumstances, why worry 

 about names ? We want varietal names for Roses and a 

 few other special things, but not for everything in the 

 garden. Besides, these Irises are generally planted at 

 the water-side, often among rushes or other growth ; and 

 I can hardly suppose that the greatest stickler for named 

 varieties of plants wants to splash about in mud search- 

 ing for labels. Buy, then, in mixture, and plant in moist 

 spots now. If you want Irises for dry spots, turn to the 

 German Flag. 



Hyacinths in Glasses. — I do not think that so many 

 Hyacinths are grown in glasses of water nowadays as 

 were cultivated in years gone by, because bowls of peat- 

 moss fibre have displaced them, but still there are some. 

 Will the grower give a little attention to glass Hyacinths 

 now ? If they are in a dark place, bring them to the 

 light. If the water is foul, pour it off very carefully and 

 refill, preferably with lukewarm water. One of the 

 troubles with glass Hyacinths is that as the flower heads 

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