THE IRIS. 127 



an ojvn sit tuition are requisite to ensure a good growth 

 of Iris Kampferi, and it thrives best in open beds. 



A third section comprises those known in gardens as 

 Crimean irises, Iris puinila. These are of dwarf growth ; 

 they flower freely, and are very gay, while their neatness 

 of habit tits them for edging flower-beds, and of course 

 they would be appropriate to give a finish to beds con- 

 taining the larger and grander varieties. The colours that 

 prevail amongst these dwarf irises are purple, dark blue, 

 pale blue, straw-yellow, and white. They will thrive ia 

 any soil, but attain to their fullest perfection in a rather 

 dry, deep sandy loam or sandy peat. They have increased 

 and flowered freely on our heavy, damp clay, and therefore 

 we are not afraid to say that any soil will suit them. 



It is proper now to remark upon a few species that are 

 calculated to afford much entertainment to the amateur of 

 hardy plants, and it is the more desirable to mention them 

 in this notice, because they are at once cheap, beautiful, 

 interesting, and but little known beyond the narrow circle 

 of advanced florists and horticultural botanists. Iris cris- 

 tata comes near to the Crimean iris in general characters ; 

 the flowers are blue, with deeper blue spots, and wavy ribs, 

 or "crests," tinted yellow and orange. Iris Florentine 

 may be added to the Germanic group as nearly related to 

 them ; the flowers are white, with a blue tinge and a yellow 

 beard, agreeably fragrant. Iris fcetidissima has a bad 

 name, but it is a tine plant, bearing lead-coloured or dull 

 yellow flowers, which are succeeded by clusters of scarlet 

 berries, that are very useful in Christmas decorations. A 

 damp situation suits this plant. The variegated-leaved 

 variety is one of the handsomest plants of its class in 

 cultivation. Iris ibericot, is a remarkable plant, with 



