152 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



foot high, of the most beautiful species, the leaves sword 

 shape, the stem erect, with one flower. It flowers in June, 

 and is a native of the Levant, whence it was imported in 

 1596. This species requires the same treatment as the 

 Persian. The Spanish Irish (Iris xephium) is a native of 

 Europe, and is often imported into this country ; the leaves 

 awl-shaped, channelled ; stem two flowered, corolla blue 

 and yellow, petals narrow, height two feet. This bulbous 

 rooted plant has been much improved by culture. 



We have about four kinds in cultivation in this country. 

 The most common is the blue ; but in England, where the 

 greatest attention is paid to their culture, their lists amount 

 to upwards of fifty, of all colors, and shades, and their 

 prices vary from twelve to eighteen cents each. The Great 

 Bulbous rooted Iris (English Iris) is much larger than 

 the Spanish ; the flower stalk is about twice as high, with 

 flowers in proportion, and equally as prolific in variety of 

 colors. They can be purchased in London at one dollar 

 per dozen. The time to remove these bulbs is from Au- 

 gfUSt to September, and they should never be kept out 

 of the ground more than six weeks, as it will affect their 

 bloom. 



The two last named varieties seed abundantly, which 

 should be sown in drills as soon as ripe, and the plants 

 will appear in the spring. The fourth year they will 

 flower, thus repaying a person well for his trouble, as 

 no attention is necessary but weeding, and a light pro- 

 tection during the severity of the winter weather. These 

 bulbs should be removed every third year, for if allowed 

 to remain in the same place a longer time, they will work 

 their way into the ground, and be entirely lost 



