IRIS 



IRIS 



plants die quickly. The rich land near manure-piles 

 produces a great quantity of plants, but the roots are 

 neither of good quality nor fragrant, and when dried 

 shrivel up and are consequently discarded by the buyers. 

 The situation or lay of this land matters little, though 

 the best ground is usually found on hillsides. The plant 

 also grows high up in the mountains, where snow and 

 ice make the cultivation of it difficult. In these high 

 places the root takes a few years more to reach its full 

 growth. 



"The most suitable soil for orris-root is that which 

 has been prepared by spring seeding with some variety 

 of leguminous plant, and which has been well pre- 

 pared and deeply plowed. The best months for 

 planting the iris are August and September, 

 although it may be planted as late as the first part 

 of October. The first two months mentioned, how- 

 ever, are preferable for the planting, as the plant 

 begins to grow immediately upon being placed in the 

 ground. 



"The best method for planting in soil that has 

 already been prepared is to make holes with a hoe about 

 16 inches apart, beginning at the bottom of the hill. 

 One plant should be placed in each hole resting on the 

 wall of the hole and having its root just reach the 

 bottom. This permits the perfect development of the 

 bulbous root. To insure good production, the soil 

 should be hoed in May and again in September. 

 Irrigation is not beneficial to the plants, as the roots 

 become less compact in irrigated land and there is a 

 dangerous tendency toward fermentation. Fertilizing 

 the soil with manure has the same effect, but if the 

 production of a large number of plants is desired, a 

 system of fertilizing with rich soil can be adopted. 

 The best fertilizer is the seed "lupino" (Lupinus 

 albus), which, after being cooked in an oven, is placed 

 in small quantities near each plant at the September 

 hoeing of the first year, if it is to be a two years' 

 growth, and in September of the second year, if for a 

 three years' growth. If the field is to be replanted 

 with orris-root the soil should be well fertilized, and 

 grain, grass or some other crop grown thereon for 

 three or four years. 



"The gathering of this product begins during the 

 last fifteen days of June, and is carried on in the 

 following manner: Several men hoe out the plant as 

 a whole, distributing only so many of the plants as can 

 be handled by the rest of the force during the fol- 

 lowing day, because the plants dry quickly when 

 exposed to the sun and wind. The plants are then 

 carried to a shelter, where the bulbous part of the 

 root is cut off, care being taken to leave enough of 

 the root extensions to insure a good growth for the 

 following years. The bulbous root is then cleaned 

 and scraped free of all imperfections. After the scra- 

 ping, it is washed by hand in a succession of basins of 

 running water. 



"The roots for market are then dried in the sun, 

 with provisions for covering and protecting from the 

 ruinous effects of rain. It is well to set the roots out- 

 side before sunrise in order that they may receive the 

 bleaching effect of the dew. After eight days' exposure 

 to a strong sun, the orris-roots can be taken in under 

 cover and packed in a dry place. Preferably the roots 

 should be pulpous and as white as possible. Artificial 

 drying in ovens or in any other manner depreciates the 

 value of the product by making it less than if sun-dried. 

 In the drying process the weight of the root becomes 

 two-thirds of what it was when cut from the plant." 



INDEX, CONTINUED. 



KEY TO THE SUBGENERA. 



A. Rootstock a short, thick, or a slender creeping 



rhizome. 

 B. Outer segms. of the perianth distinctly crested 



on the claw and the lower part of the blade 



EVANSIA. Species 1-5 



BB. Outer segms. of the perianth bearded with multi- 

 cellular hairs. 



c. Seeds without a conspicuous aril 



POGONIRIS. Species 6-34 

 cc. Seeds with a conspicuous creamy white 



circular aril. 



D. Aril much smaller than the seeds: Ivs. not 

 fully grown at flowering-time 



PSEUDOREGELIA. Species 35 



DD. Aril nearly as large as the seed itself: Ivs. 

 fully grown at flowering-time. 



E. St. 1-headed, 1-3-fld 



REGELIA. Species 36-38 

 BE. St. 1-headed, 1-fld.: beard diffuse on 

 the claw and the lower part of the 

 blade ONCOCYCLUS. Species 39-51 



