i5o ROGK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



/. reticulata. The Golden-netted Iris, from the 

 Caucasus, is one of the most useful for planting amongst 

 other dwarf -growing plants. Its spear-like leaves appear 

 early in spring, followed by the beautifully golden-netted, 

 violet-purple flowers, that are very fragrant. A still 

 finer form is the variety major, more robust in habit, 

 and with larger flowers. There is also a still earlier 

 flowering form called var. Krelagei, with duller purple 

 blooms. 



Two other beautiful Irises from Asia Minor are 7. 

 stenophylla and /. Tauri. The former has very large 

 flowers, about four inches across, borne on a stem of the 

 same height ; the standards are of a soft blue shade, while 

 the falls are intense blue bordered with white. I. Tauri 

 has violet purple flowers of different shades, with a band 

 of gold on the blades of the fall. Another winter-flowering 

 plant is the Scorpion Iris (7. alata) from Algiers. Its 

 beautiful blue flowers of various shades commence opening 

 in November, and with mild weather last on for a long 

 time. Unfortunately, the bulbs do not ripen properly 

 during our summers, and seldom flower much the second 

 year. Fresh bulbs, however, are very cheap, and well 

 worth getting every season in order to have a display. 



