20 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICUTURAL SOCIETY. 



Iris sambucina crossed with /. pallida has given us the very 

 beautiful variety Madame Chereau, while the cross between varie- 

 gata and sambucina produces Iris neglecta by selection from which 

 we have Clarissima with lavender standards and falls reticulated 

 with crimson purple on a white ground; C}1;here, standards lavender 

 blue, falls clear blue ; Florence Barr, with both falls and standards 

 bluish; with rosy lilac tinge ; and Mons de Sible, with lilac standards 

 and deep crimson-purple falls. 



Some beautiful forms are embraced under the doubtful species 

 hybrida, all with white standards, of which Due de Nemours, with 

 purple edged white falls; George Thorbeck, falls rich violet purple 

 veined with white at base; Mrs. George Darwin, falls white, the 

 upper part veined with gold and violet, are among the best. 



The species Iri.s German ica is, undoubtedly, more common than 

 any other type, particularly in the older gardens. In this purple 

 is the predominating color, and Purple King and Black Prince are 

 the best representatives. 



Iris Florentina, the orris root of commerce, is one of the most 

 popular, and very deservedly so ; for over a hundred years it has 

 occupied a conspicuous position in every large New England garden, 

 and during the period has lost none of its popularity; free bloom- 

 ing, wuth flowers of pearly whiteness, it annually leads the way to 

 the charms of the early summer garden flowers. There are three 

 forms, the common type just described, the variety Albicans, of a 

 purer white, and Princess of Wales, even more floriferous, with 

 slightly longer flowers and the most deliciously fragrant of any Ger- 

 man iris. 



The crowning beauty of all German irises is traceable to the 

 blood of Iris pallida, the broadest leaved of all, with sword-like 

 foliage often attaining a height of two and one-half feet and an 

 inch and a half across the blade. The flowers are borne on long 

 stems well above the foliage, altogether producing a most charm- 

 ing effect. The variety Dalmatica sometimes known as Princess 

 Beatrice and occasionally in this country as Madam Almyra, is 

 the finest, with immense flowers of a rich lavender blue and with a 

 charming though subtle fragrance. Delicata is of weaker growth, 

 with falls lavender, shading to white and French-gray standards. 

 Hybridizing has not improved this species, as seen in the variety 



