THE ILLUSTRATIONS 101 



cannot fail to give rise, and attempts at their solution must 

 needs add zest to the interest of the mere growing of 

 the plants. 



CHAPTER XVII 

 THE ILLUSTRATIONS 



IT is difficult in a series of so few as eight plates to give 

 much idea of the diversity of types to be found within 

 the Iris genus. In deciding what species or varieties should 

 be represented, two courses suggested themselves. It might 

 have been possible to select eight of the rarest species ; 

 but since the beginner will not want to start with these, 

 it seemed better to choose those Irises which, while being 

 themselves easily obtainable, were at the same time repre- 

 sentative of the different groups. 



The bulbous species are represented by /. bucharica 

 (see Plate I.), which is undoubtedly the finest for garden 

 purposes of the Juno group (see page 17), and by one of 

 the so-called Dutch Irises (see Plate V.), which are a 

 great improvement in size and vigour on the old forms of 

 Spanish Irises. The third representative bulbous Iris is 

 also a member of the Xiphion group, and is included 

 because /. xiphioides or anglica (see Plate VI.) can be 

 grown with success by those whose soil is too damp and 

 retentive for such species as /. xiphium and /. bucharica 

 to do well except in specially well-drained and prepared 

 quarters. 



