THE BULB GARDEN 157 



be indispensable. Irises, in fact, of one sort or 

 another, almost encircle the year, beginning with 

 the Algerian /. stylosa, one of the most precious 

 of open-air mid-winter flowers, followed by the 

 delicate tints of the early Persian, the rich purple 

 of the netted iris, and all the beautiful newer forms 

 introduced of late years from the mountains of Asia 

 Minor. In April come the dwarf flags, delightful 

 for edging where broad effects are desirable. These 

 are quickly succeeded by the German irises the 

 " poor man's orchid " in all their variety of pen- 

 cilled blue and purple and golden-bronze. A host 

 of species, not easy to class, fill in the time until 

 the fine Japanese /. Icevigata, which may be seen 

 in such perfection by the water side in the wild 

 garden at Wisley, brings the long list well into 

 the autumn. Last of all, the wild "gladden,** 

 often transplanted from the hedge bank into the 

 garden, bursts its large pods and lights up some 

 flowerless corner with its scarlet seeds. 



Leaving out the red-hot pokers (Kniphofia), some 

 of which are very fine, and belong to the lilies 

 though their roots are not bulbous, hybrid gladioli 

 are the mainstay in the way of bulbs in the autumn 

 garden. Of these there are several distinct strains, 

 all beautiful of their kind, the oldest being the 

 familiar G. gandavensis, taken in hand first by 

 growers in Ghent, as the name implies, but since 

 brought to great perfection by the English firm 

 of Kelway of Langport. Next in order comes the 

 French breed of G. nanceianus, which is owing 

 to the good work of M. Lemoine of Nancy; and 

 lastly, the magnificent race inaugurated by that 



