236 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



" The Lily, and the Fleur-de-Ks, 

 For colour much contenting ! 

 For that I them do only prize, 

 They are but poor in scenting." 



The poet seems not to have been acquainted with the 

 Persian Iris, which has so fine a perfume. 



Spenser also distinguishes the -Flower-de-luce from the 

 Lily, though acknowledging the connexion : 



" The Lilly, lady of the flowering field, 

 The Flower-de-Luce, her lovely paramour, 

 Bid thee to them thy fruitless labours yield, 

 And soon leave off this toilsome weary stour : 

 Lo ! lo ! how brave she decks her bounteous bower 

 With silken curtains, and gold coverlets, 

 Therein to shroud her sumptuous balamour ; 

 Yet neither spins, nor cards, ne cares, nor frets, 

 But to her mother Nature all her cares she lets." 



Mrs. C. Smith gives a lively picture of the Yellow, or 

 Water Iris. 



(( Amid its waving swords, in flaming gold 

 The Iris towers ." 



IXIA. 



GLADIOLEJE. TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



THERE are many species of Ixia, varying in colour : 

 they have bulbous roots, and may be increased by their 

 offsets ; but they will not flower well if parted oftener than 

 every third year. In the autumn the stalks and leaves de- 

 cay; the roots should then be put under shelter for the 

 winter, unless it is designed to remove them ; in which 

 case they may be treated in the same manner as the Hya- 

 cinth, and bulbs in general, and may be replanted any time 

 between October and January. They may stand abroad 

 in the summer, and should then have a little water every 



