Round the Year in the Garden 



to take some pains. In most gardens it needs to be 

 planted at the foot of a sunny wall in a well-drained 

 border of light loam soil and sand. Perfect drainage 

 seems essential, and if the soil is at all clayey it should 

 be removed and replaced by a fresh mixture. The most 

 suitable time to plant is as soon as the blossoming season 

 is past ; if the work is carried out then the chances are 

 that the Iris will bloom satisfactorily during the 

 following winter. Iris unguicularis is another name 

 for this beautiful winter flower, which is a native of 

 Algeria. 



Christmas and Lenten Roses. Most people find 

 that their Christmas Roses deteriorate after some years 

 in the same place ; the flower stems become stunted 

 or are sparsely produced, the blooms are small, and the 

 plants generally lack vigour. These failings indicate 

 that it is time the clumps were taken up, divided, and 

 the best pieces replanted on fresh ground; if on the 

 same site this should be deeply dug and enriched. 

 There is some difference of opinion as to the season at 

 which it is best to transplant Christmas and Lenten 

 Roses ; some gardeners carry out the work in March, others 

 in July. Deep, moist soil such as is obtained by thorough 

 cultivation and by mixing decayed manure and leaf- 

 mould with the ground, should be provided. A half- 

 shady position among hardy ferns suits them admirably. 

 The Lenten Roses do not seem to be so generally 

 grown as the Christmas Roses, perhaps for the reason 

 that they do not bloom until later, when flowers are 

 less scarce, yet the best kinds, especially the white 

 and light coloured ones, are very beautiful. They are 

 finer plants than the Christmas Roses, growing more 

 vigorously and flowering more freely as a rule ; similar 

 treatment is necessary. The named forms are numerous ; 

 a selection ought to include olympicus superbus, white, 

 caucasicus albus, Gertrude Jekyll, white, and roseus 

 punctatus, spotted with rose. 



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