THE IRIS AND ITS CULTURE. 23 



visual evidence of variety. Probably no class of plants has been 

 more cruelly foisted on the public as new than these, by means of 

 fanciful names in which Japanese terms have been used as indica- 

 tive of new sorts. 



It is highly improbable that any distinctive improvement of 

 the class has resulted in comparison with the first sets of varieties 

 shown in our halls twenty years ago. The following list is probably 

 no better than others that could be named, but possesses distinction 

 in the sorts quoted. Arthur Silbard, double, white, shaded with 

 violet; Blue Jay, single, clear blue, spotted with w^iite; Calypso, 

 double, lilac, richly veined with purple; Dagmar Georgeson, 

 rich royal purple, single; Goliath, double, white, marked with 

 violet; Emperor of Japan, double, velvety maroon; Gold Bound, 

 double, white, margined with gold; and Painted Lady, single, 

 white, veined with claret. 



The wonderful size of the flowers of the Japanese irises, their 

 late period of bloom, carrying on the flower effect to early August, 

 renders the class indispensable to every flower garden. Massing 

 them in groups of a single variety, rather than in promiscuous clash- 

 ing of colors is, however, essential for the most artistic effects. 



Discussion. 



INIrs. E. ]M. Gill inquired how often it was necessary to transplant 

 the iris. 



Mr. Manning replied that it depended on the class; German 

 irises should be transplanted every three or four years; the Japanese 

 kinds every year or every other year. August is the best time to 

 transplant them. 



William N. Craig remarked that to have success with Spanish 

 irises it is necessary to repurchase stock every second year; they 

 cannot be grown successfully after the second year without new 

 stock. 



John Clark said that he had grown the various classes of iris 

 and that after all it is the German varieties to which we must look 

 for the best results. 



In answer to a question concerning the best fertilizer for the iris 

 Mr. Manning stated that ordinary manure fertilizers are satisfactory. 



