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Gardening for Amateurs 



are gigantea, 4 to 5 feet, white and yellow, 

 very large flowers, and Snowflake, 4 feet high, 

 pure white, yellow blotch. These Irises are 

 delightful by the waterside and in other 

 damp situations. The Siberian Flag (I. 

 sibirica) is a lovely flower for sunny positions 

 in the bog garden, by the waterside, and in 

 deep border soil ; it grows 2 to 3 feet high, 

 has narrow leaves, bright blue flowers in 

 May and June. There are several varieties 

 of this, the most distinct being alba, white ; 

 orientalis, violet- blue, more robust ; Blue 



Japanese Irises (Iris Kaempferi or laevigata) 

 are unsurpassed in gorgeous colouring by 

 any other members of the Iris family. The 

 flowers are flat, some 6 inches or more across, 

 and remarkably and richly varied in colour, 

 several shades of colour in one flower usually 

 being seen. Some have single, others double, 

 or semi-double flowers, in the following shades 

 of colour : purple, blue, violet, lavender, 

 lilac, rose, crimson, and white. Most of the 

 best sorts have been raised in Japan, and 

 given local names, so it will serve no useful 



A group of the Flag or German Iris. 



King, clea:? blue ; and Snow Queen, ivory 

 white. The Algerian Winter Iris (I. ungui- 

 cularis or stylosa) produces its charming 

 flowers from November to March. It is 

 necessary to plant this Iris in a warm, shel- 

 tered spot, for the sake of the welcome 

 flowers in winter. Should the weather be 

 unfavourable, the flowers may be cut in the 

 bud state, and opened in water in a room. 

 The plants grow about 1 foot high, and bear 

 lavender-blue flowers ; alba is a beautiful 

 white variety. They need poor, light soil. 



Japanese Flag Irises. Flowering from 

 the end of June to August, the beautiful 



purpose to give a selection here. Though 

 naturally a moisture-loving Iris, the Japanese 

 Flag should be planted in full sunshine, the 

 margins of a pond or stream are suitable. 

 The plants also thrive well in deep soil in 

 the herbaceous border, liberal supplies of 

 water and liquid manure being given during 

 summer. Planting may be done in autumn 

 or spring. Propagation is carried out by 

 division of the roots or by sowing seeds, 

 which produce plants that bloom in from 

 two to three years, provided seeds are 

 sown as soon as ripe. If the seeds are 

 stored they germinate less readily. 



