126 THE IBIS ' 



will generally endure our winters. The flowers are pro- 

 duced in May. 



I. Susiana. This species, like the last, has roots rather 

 tuberous than bulbous. The flowers are magnificent, and, 

 under careful culture, freely produced. In the greenhouse, 

 it blooms well ; and it is hardy enough to survive our 

 winters, but must be taken up as soon as the foliage de- 

 cays, as, if left in the ground, it makes a very early autumn 

 growth, which is killed by the winter, and the bulb perishes. 

 The soil for this species should be rather sandy. 



Besides these, there are some fifty species of iris ; and we 

 know of no family of which all the species are so ornamen- 

 tal.* The only culture the iris requires in the garden is to 

 plant it like a tulip, and, after the leaves die, to take it up, 

 as most of the bulbous species slowly sink into the ground 

 by the production of new bulbs, bury themselves, and 

 are lost. This is not, however, the case with I. Susiana 

 and the tuberous species. Most of the species may be 

 successfully forced, as prescribed for hyacinths, either in 

 earth or water. 



The following are the characteristics of a good iris : 



This flower is composed of three principal and three 

 secondary petals, or divisions. The three principal fall 

 * See " Garden Flowers." 



