128 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



immense dark flowers, superbly streaked, veined, and 

 spotted. This is scarce at present, and may be ad- 

 vantageously grown in pots as a frame plant. It is, 

 however, hardy enough for a dry, warm nook in the rock 

 garden. Iris Monnieri is a grand plant, with fragrant 

 yellow flowers. It requires a rich, deep, moist soil, and 

 a warm situation. Iris pallida is distinct and fine; the 

 flowers are pale blue, with pale yellow beard ; it will thrive 

 in almost any soil and situation, and may be classed with 

 the German irises. Iris pseudacons is the common 

 English water-flag, a truly noble species, which adorns 

 with its golden banners many a broad river and sluggish 

 meadow stream. It is worth a place in the woodland border, 

 and the variegated-leaved variety is a good garden plant, 

 Iris reticulata is an exquisite gem, with narrow, rush-like 

 leaves, and flowers plentifully produced, the colours rich 

 violet-purple, strongly stamped in the centre with deep 

 rich gold. The extreme elegance and fragrance of the 

 flowers, and the tendency of the plant to suffer from 

 damp, render it desirable to treat this as a pot-plant. 



