THE IRIS AND ITS CULTURE. 21 



Queen of May, which, while beautiful, with its soft, rosy-lilac, 

 almost pink flowers, is a comparatively weak grower, though 

 floriferous. The beautiful cross of the sj)ec\es -with. Iris samhicina 

 shown in the variety Madame Chereau is an exception, however, and 

 this is a most delightful flower, with its pure white petals richly 

 feathered with lilac. 



The varieties of German iris mentioned are but a fraction of 

 those that can be purchased from horticultural sources; they 

 represent, however, the best and among them are varieties far 

 advanced in horticultural merit over many of the more common 

 varieties seen. Of clear yellow German irises we have two species 

 flavescens and aurea; both are good, the former attaining a height 

 of three feet, with lemon yellow flowers, and the latter of dwarfer 

 gro^^i:h, with rich golden yellow flowers. 



All of these irises with surface rhizomes are of the easiest cultiva- 

 tion, thriving in ordinary garden soils, requiring subdivision and 

 replanting in reenriched soils as their clumps become large or the 

 soil becomes exhausted. This replanting should be done as soon 

 as the foliage shows signs of ripening and must not be delayed so 

 long that they may not become thoroughly reeestablished in the 

 soil before winter. In planting it is better not to sink the rhizomes 

 over an inch below the surface unless the situation is naturally a 

 very dry one. As the plants become established the rhizome soon 

 assumes its proper elevation. Until of late few diseases troubled 

 this class. Unfortunately, however, a seemingly microbic rot is 

 found to affect the roots so that the foliage becomes detached from 

 the rhizome. The disease is little understood and no remedy has 

 been proved effective, though it is quite possible that overrichness 

 of soil may serve to foster the disease. 



The Jacob's Sword {Iris Pseudacorus) occupies an intermediate 

 position. Never being classed as a German iris it is a beautiful 

 plant to associate along water courses and yet will thrive admirably 

 in ordinary garden soils; with ample dark-green foliage it makes 

 a vigorous and healthy clump and bears abundantly of rich golden 

 yellow flowers with a conspicuous orange zone on the base of the 

 falls. Two types are common, one with narrower petals than the 

 other. The Gladwin, or Roast-Beef plant (7m foefidissima), 

 while pale blue in its typical form, in its variety citrina is of a clear 



