THE IRIS AND ITS CULTURE. 17 



naturally in March our climatic conditions require its cultivation 

 in frames to protect the flowers from staining by dampness, though 

 it is hardy and can be used very advantageously in rockeries or in 

 protected, sunny situations within easy access to the house. The 

 Armenian Iris Bakeriana is even earlier, but less showy, though of 

 rich markings of purple and orange in connection with its general 

 blue tone. I. Vartani is another species from Asia Minor, but 

 more difficult to manage than the others and more tender. 



Another class of bulbous species is knoAvn under the name of 

 Juno irises, natives of the Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Northern 

 India. They have comparatively large bulbs and require well- 

 drained situations and a thorough sun baking in summer to insure 

 their continuance and future flowering. They have generally 

 leafy stems with several flowers closely set to the stalk, and combine 

 all the ranges of coloring in the family. They closely follow the 

 last group in their flowering period, but their inadaptability for 

 cutting and the peculiar cultural conditions they demand without 

 particular increase in their color range fail to promise much for 

 their culture in American gardens except to the fancier. Of them 

 I. Rosenbachiana, Sindjarensis, and Assyriaca are perhaps the best. 



Of rhizomatous irises the bugbear class is that of the Onocyclus 

 group, generally known as Cushion irises. The most familiar 

 species is the Mourning iris or Iris susiana. All have very broad 

 petals, and among them are the most remarkable forms in coloring. 

 Many of the flowers are most delicately veined and reticulated, 

 generally with a darker color on a light background, and were 

 they of easier groAAth they could not fail to be popular in every 

 garden. They are from Persia, Armenia, and Afghanistan and 

 naturally require hard sun baking after their short blooming sea- 

 son. They can hardly be called hardy, and in any event require 

 such special cultural attention that they cannot be recommended. 

 The wonderfully full flowers with their peculiar markings such as 

 shown in I. paradoxa, Iberica, and the so-called Prince of irises, 

 I. Gatcsii, make them particularly interesting and tantalizing. 



Closely allied to the Onocyclus group is another popularly 

 known as the Regelia section in which the petals are narrower and 

 the plants are hardier and considerably more easily cultivated, but 

 of even greater importance is the fact that they hybridize freely 



