IRISH IVY. 



273 



IXIA. 



representatives will be found in /. histrio, 

 with lilac-purple and yellow flowers ; /. 

 Pcrsica, yellowish-lilac, and exhaling a 

 perfume like the violet ; and /. reticulata, 

 with flowers of violet-purple, with yellow 

 markings on the lower petals. 



MG. 2. FLOWER OF BEARDED IRIS, SHOWING 

 PARTS. 



In Fig. 2 the form and parts of the 

 bearded iris is clearly shown. In this the 

 lower petals A are the " falls " technically 

 so called; B, the "standards"; C, the 

 petal-like " stigmas " ; and D, the " beard." 



Irish Ivy. 



The Irish Ivy, Hedera eanariensis, or, as 

 it is sometimes called, the Giant Ivy, is 

 very ornamental. It is also extremely 

 useful, as its growth is so rapid that a 

 screen may be formed of it in a very short 

 space of time. It requires to be clipped 

 once or twice a year freely. 



Irish Yew- 



This is an upright shrub with very dark 

 foliage. It has a very good effect when 

 standing alone on a lawn, and may be 

 introduced with advantage into shrubberies 

 in contrast with other shrubs of lighter 

 foliage. 



(nat. ord. Amarylli'dea). 

 A genus of free-flowering handsome 



sweet-scented summer-blooming plants, 

 which should be cultivated in every gar- 

 den. They are now included in the genus 

 Hymenocallis. They grow freely on a 

 south border in a mixture of light loam and 

 rich vegetable soil, but require shelter from 

 cold winds, and good drainage. They make 

 handsome plants for in-door decoration. 



The bulbs must be taken up and placed 

 under protection drjring the cold months, 

 for they will not stand the winter out of 

 doors. 



The culture the same as recommended 

 for hardy and half-hardy amaryllis. The 

 best -known variety is Ismene calathinmn^ 

 or Peruvian Daffodil, with a large white 

 cup flower. 



Ivy (nat. ord. Aralia'cese). 



There are many kinds of this wall- 

 loving climber, one of which, the Irish ivy, 

 has been mentioned above. The common 

 sorts have green leaves and purple berries, 

 growing in clusters ; but there are many 

 varieties with gold and silver splashes on 

 the leaves, such as Hedera helia foliis 

 argenteis and H. k. foliis aureis, which 

 are often spoken of as gold and silver ivies. 

 Any kind can be easily propagated by 

 slips planted in spring, in sandy soil in a 

 north border. The slips must be gently 

 watered in dry weather. Common ivies 

 like moist, rich soil ; but the variegated 

 sorts, which are not so hardy or so strong 

 in constitution, like a lighter soil wherein 

 to grow. 



Ix'ia (nat. ord. Irid'ese). 



An exceedingly pretty Cape flowering- 

 bulb, producing its graceful flowers in long 

 slender spikes, and in the greatest pro- 

 fusion ; succeeds well on a warm south 

 border, in a mixture of sandy loam and 

 leaf mould, or peat. Propagated by off- 

 sets or by seeds sown in sandy loam atout 

 September, and placed in a cool frame. 



