38 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



or blue-white flowers and a more widely branching stem. 

 In addition, there is also in existence, though it is more rare 

 in cultivation, a white form of /. germanica, which corre- 

 sponds closely to the atropurpurea or deep violet-black 

 form. 



Taken as a whole, the germanicae are the earliest to 

 flower of all the so-called German Irises, and are at their 

 best in May at any rate in the south of England. Unless 

 they are banished to sunless corners or choked in the " wild 

 garden," they can usually be relied upon to flower well. It 

 is seldom that they suffer from such a catastrophe as befell 

 them this year (1911), when the extremely hard frost and 

 cutting east wind of the first days of April literally nipped 

 all the buds of the typical /. germanica that were not grow- 

 ing in very sheltered positions, while the stems were still 

 only a few inches long, and could only be found by cutting 

 open the bases of the tufts of the leaves. 



THE PALLIDA GROUP 



This group takes its name from some South European 

 plants, which, as compared with germanicas, are certainly 

 paler, both as regards the flowers and the foliage, which 

 is very glaucous. They are also distinguished by the curious 

 spathes, which assume the appearance of whitish paper or 

 parchment even before the tips of the buds emerge from 

 them. The typical pallida has a tall stem that grows to a 

 height of 3 feet and is closely set in the upper part with 

 numerous, pale lavender flowers, which, in the sunlight, at 

 any rate, have a faint, rosy tint. The conspicuous beard 

 is composed of thickly-set orange-coloured hairs. An even 



