ON IRISES 219 



Propagation. It is easily propagated by division or 

 offsets. Irises have more than a mere set of fibres as 

 a root-stock. They either have a rhizome (which is a 

 thick, tough, root-like stem, just under or at the surface 

 of the ground, pushing fibres from its under side and 

 leaves from the upper) or a bulb. The rhizomatous 

 Irises include the " Flags," the bulbs include the English 

 and Spanish. It is hard to say which of the two great 

 sections, the rhizomatous or the bulbous, is the more 

 important. Most Iris lovers take care to have the best 

 of each. The clusters of rhizomes may be separated 

 when they get crowded, and individual ones may even 

 be cut through if desired. This work is best done in 

 early autumn. It is wise to practise it, in any case, 

 every third year, as this gives an opportunity of simul- 

 taneously increasing the number of plants and improving 

 the soil. When rhizomes are planted, they should be 

 just covered with soil. There will be leaves attached, 

 for the " Flag " Irises are evergreens, but that will not 

 matter. The bulbous Irises are increased by offsets, 

 which grow round the parent bulb. It is not necessary 

 to take them up every year, but they may be lifted in 

 the early autumn of every third or fourth year, the 

 clumps divided, and replanted in fresh soil. 



Cheapness. The Iris is a cheap plant, if we limit it to 

 the German (or other popular " Flags "), the Spanish, 

 and the English. The first may cost is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. 

 per dozen in mixtures ; the second about 33. per 100 ; 

 the third about is. 6d. per 100. A dozen " Flag " Irises, 

 planted at intervals of a few feet, will be enough for 

 many borders, and 100 bulbous Irises, planted in threes, 

 will give thirty-three nice clumps, and leave an odd 

 bulb for the children's garden. The question is whether 

 the genus can be so limited and still remain well 



