68 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



what the signification of these nodules may be, nor whether 

 a separate class must on the strength of them be made for 

 this species and its Chinese cousin. 



There are in addition certain Central Asiatic and Chinese 

 species that are either not cultivated or very rare in culti- 

 vation, such as tenuifolia, Bungei, ventricosa, songarica, 

 Henryi, Rossii, &c. These can hardly yet be said to have 

 their place in our "present day" gardens, though it is 

 to be hoped that those who have the opportunity will 

 be kind enough to send home a few seeds with the 

 capsules. From these it would in most cases be possible 

 to identify the species and to raise seedlings, which would 

 introduce these Irises into general cultivation. Seeds 

 travel more easily and more successfully than rhizomes, 

 and the resulting plants usually establish themselves more 

 readily in their new quarters. 



CHAPTER XI 

 IRISES FOR THE ROCK GARDEN 



I. BULBOUS SPECIES 



FEW rock gardens contain many Irises, and yet some of 

 the species are seen to the best advantage on its ledges, 

 which raise them to the level of the eye. In the winter 

 months especially, when many alpine treasures are either 

 dormant with their heads tucked beneath the surface or 

 reduced to mere withered tufts of dry leaves, what could 



