122 GARDEN GUIDE 



five or ten dollars worth of stock for another year. The dwarf varie- 

 ties of German Iris are known as Pumila Hybrids. When the tall 

 varieties were crossed with the dwarf varieties an intermediate group 

 resulted, known as Intermediate or Interregna varieties. The blooms 

 are large and most exquisite in color. The range of colors in German 

 Iris is extraordinary, varying from pure white to deepest yellow, purple 

 and violet and including delicate lavender, blue and even approaching 

 pink. The Pumila varieties are the earliest to bloom in this group, 

 usually in early May. They are followed by the Intermediate, then 

 last, the tall, a few of which open in late May or early June. 



It is interesting to know that Iris florentina, the old-fashioned 

 sweet, early-blooming, pale lavender-white species, is the orris-root 

 of commerce and believed to be the original of the Fleur-de-lis, or 

 French national floral emblem. The belles of ancient Greece grew 

 it both for flowers and root, and the growing of this root is a leading 

 industry of northern Italy. The rhizomes are dug in the Summer 

 and peeled to remove the outer bark. The separate joints are laid 

 aside to dry until the end of two years, when they will have acquired 

 a delicate fragrance of Violets. The root pieces, which have a white 

 appearance, are brought to the market by perfumers who powder them 

 for dentifrices or sachet powders, or when distilled with water form the 

 oil of orris, the basis of many perfumes. 



Almost all Irises like sun. The best fertilizers for them are wood- 

 ashes and bonemeal. The German Iris likes lime; the Japanese Iris 

 is thought not to like a calcium soil. Most Irises are sensitive to 

 active manure. After the first year there will be little need for pro- 

 tecting any but the weakest plants. 



They are best transplanted after blooming, when the leaves 

 have matured; this will be in August or September, not much later, 

 for roots should become established before freezing. The Spring is 

 considered a poor time to move them. When Iris clumps begin to 

 choke themselves out by covering the ground so that young shoots 

 have difficulty in establishing roots, they should be broken up and 

 set in another place. Due to the prolificacy of German Iris this will 

 be necessary every third year. 



LATHYRUS • Everlasting Pea 



The Lathyrus latifolius, or Everlasting Pea, is a native of England, 

 where it is extremely popular. Considering its great value as a decora- 

 tive climber, it is not as extensively cultivated in this country as it 

 should be. To all who love a flower garden it can be recommended as 

 a most desirable plant. It is very hardy, thrives in common garden 

 soil, and the vigorous, leafy vines, which attain a height of six to 

 eight feet, rapidly cover the trellis, wall or stump against which they 



