94 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



profusion. It well repays trouble, for its flowers come 

 late in June, when Iris blooms are beginning to get scarce, 

 and its graceful growth with the flowers set at intervals up 

 the stem in the axils of the leaves produces a particularly 

 pleasing plant. 



Another Iris, and this a bulbous species, that under 

 ordinary garden conditions remains flowerless year after 

 year, is /. tingitana. This, as its name implies, is a North 

 African species, and really wants more heat than we can 

 give it here. However, in the case of this Iris, lack of heat 

 gives rise to a demand for a more liberal diet, and it seems 

 to be able to assimilate the plant food in any amount of old, 

 well-rotted manure that may be placed an inch or two below 

 the base of the bulbs, which are themselves surrounded with 

 sand. Even with this treatment the bulbs should either be 

 lifted annually and planted rather late, or else kept absolutely 

 dry under lights for some months. When /. tingitana 

 flowers well, it is a really glorious sight. Its flowers are 

 larger than those of any other kind of xiphium or Spanish 

 Iris, and the different shades of blue and purple in the 

 standards and the falls form a most delightful contrast. 

 Owing to the fact that the flowers appear late in April or 

 early in May, the bulbs should be planted in a sheltered, 

 sunny spot, where some protection from late frosts can be 

 afforded. In exposed positions a sudden snap of cold may 

 nip all the flowers in the bud, and frustrate all our hopes 

 for that year of seeing this noble Iris in bloom. 



The complaint is sometimes made that " German " 

 Irises will not flower, and are not worth the space they 

 occupy. It will usually be found that this is caused by 

 one of three things. Either the position is such that no 



