IRIS. 



233 



shrink, they must be planted immediately. The bulbs 

 should be set two inches deep, from the surface of the earth 

 to the top of the crown. 



The Chalcedonian Iris in French, Tiris de Suse, or 

 de Constantinople has also very large flowers, and is the 

 most magnificent of them all ; but the petals are very thin, 

 and hang in a kind of slatternly manner, which makes it 

 appear, to some persons, less handsome than others which 

 are smaller. It likes a loamy earth, and sunny exposure ; 

 this species must be very sparingly watered : moisture 

 favours the growth of all the other kinds ; but it will in- 

 jure this to give it more than will preserve the earth from 

 absolute drought. It may be increased by parting the 

 roots in autumn ; and during the winter months it will be 

 safer to give it house-room. This flower is called, by old 

 writers, the Turkey Flower-de-luce. 



The SnakeVhead Iris may be increased in the same 

 manner, but must be kept moist, and needs no winter 

 shelter : the flower is dark purple, approaching to black. 



The Twice-flowering Iris in French, Viris des deux 

 saisons (so called because it flowers both in spring and 

 autumn) the Various-coloured, the Pale-yellow, the Grass- 

 leaved, and the Siberian, may be treated as the Snake's- 

 head species : they like an eastern aspect. 



,To these may be added the Florentine Iris, White 

 Fleur-de-luce, or Flower-de-luce of Florence in French, 

 laflambe blanche and the Crocus-rooted Iris, or Spanish 

 Nut : these should be housed in winter, but merely to pro- 

 tect them from frost. The root of the former, corruptly 

 called orrice, is used to communicate a violet scent to hair- 

 powder, oils, and syrup. 



But it is useless to enumerate more : these already named 

 are the best adapted for pots, and the Persian Iris is far 

 preferable to all the others. Irises may be removed every 



