128 THE MOREA. 



contrast of color, the better. The iris is a dwarf-plant ; and 

 though three petals fall down and three stand up, and the 

 fall of the broad petals is too sudden, and, on looking down 

 on them, they hardly form any recognizable outline, it is 

 capable of being produced with a fall not so sudden, and a 

 curve perfectly graceful ; and the great advantage of this 

 ^will be, that the entire surface may be seen at once, instead 

 of a portion only. 



The flowers should open but one at a time, that the 

 beauty of the plant may be prolonged. The flower should 

 be eighteen inches from the ground, and, when full grown 

 and expanded, be four inches across. 



THE MOREA. 



This family was separated from Iris on account of the 

 nature of the bulb, which much resembles a corm. The 

 flowers are very brilliant, but fugitive. The family is not 

 hardy ; but many of the species do well in pots. The soil 

 should be a sandy loam, and the plants require frequent 

 syringings to keep them free from red spider. They are 

 mostly natives of the Cape of Good Hope ; and flower from 

 April to July, according to the species. The bulbs do not 



