30 A REMINDER TO PLANT TO HELP 



the surrounding surface. Place the rhizome flat on the mound 

 and after spreading the rootlets in a slanting way downwards 

 over the mound of soil, in order that they may the better resist 

 the action of frost, fill the hole and cover the top of the rhizome 

 with but an inch or so of soil well pressed down. If manure is 

 dug into the ground at the time of planting be careful not to let 

 the rhizome come in contact with any of it. But little moisture 

 should be given until growth begins, or the rhizome will be 

 likely to decay. 



Such care in planting except that the rhizome should not be 

 any more deeply covered and should not be allowed to come in 

 contact with manure is not essential to success, but it will be 

 well repaid by the extra results that will be thus obtained. 



If the plants are small, and a mass effect as soon as possible 

 is wanted, they can be planted a foot apart each way and they 

 will soon completely cover the ground. Ordinarily, however, a 

 greater distance will be found more desirable. Irises flower 

 most profusely when well established, and they increase quite 

 rapidly, and it is therefore advisable to set the plants at such a 

 distance apart that division and resetting will not be necessary 

 for a few years at least two, and better three feet apart. The 

 vacant spaces, until required by the Irises themselves, can be 

 utilized with annuals, and for this purpose nothing is better 

 than the gladiolus, which has the same sword-like leaves, and 

 which will be in bloom after all the Irises are done. The gladi- 

 olus itself will look all the better in such setting because of its 

 own sparse foliage. Care should be taken not to shade the Iris 

 rhizomes completely which is likely to be the case if low growing 

 trailing plants are used as fillers as they need the sunshine to 

 ripen them. 



The taller varieties should of course be planted at the rear. 

 Of varieties of the same height the earlier blooming, except those 

 which keep their foliage throughout the entire season, should be 

 planted back of the others. If the Iris bed or border is located 

 where it will be much in evidence when not in bloom, in the 

 extreme front only such varieties should be planted as retain 

 their foliage in good condition for the longest period. These 

 are noted ante under "Foliage." 



