A REMINDER TO PLANT TO HELP 



"Where waves the bulrush as the waters glide. 

 And yellow Flag-flowers deck the sunny side." 

 Anon. 



In the North of France, the ridge of the thatched cottage is 

 given a coating of clay the whole width of the roof, to hold the 

 thatch and to prevent leaking. In this clay Irises are planted, 

 and their flowers sway in the breeze like flags, and hence, it is 

 said, the name, Flag. By others it is said that the name was 

 given to these plants on account of their flat leaves which sway 

 in the wind. Another version is that the three drooping seg- 

 ments of the flower were called "Flags" because like flags they 

 flutter in every breeze, and that from this circumstance the name, 

 in time, was given to the plant itself. 



"Sweetest Iris beareth shortest flagges." 

 T. Moufet. 



The Iris has been called "The Poor Man's Orchid," and "Or- 

 chid of the North," and rightly, for it is both cheap and hardy, 

 and in diversity, delicacy and richness of color, in texture, and in 

 elegance of form it rivals the choicest floral treasures of the 

 torrid zone. 



Ruskin refers to the Iris as the Flower of Chivalry "with a 

 sword for its leaf, and a lily for its heart." 



Iris florentina, a white flower much used in church decora- 

 ration, the French call "/a flambe blanche" The White Torch 

 of the Garden. 



