164 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 



or coarse litter in autumn. It is not at all particular as 

 to soil, preferring a rather heavy and moist one, but will 

 give great satisfaction in any soil or situation. The 

 tubers may be planted, either in spring or early autumn, 

 the latter being preferable, as they start very early in 

 the spring. Plant about a foot apart each way, and they 

 will soon completely cover the ground. Propagation is 

 by division, or from seed. The rapidity with which plants 

 can be produced from seed, and the great variation of 

 color in the seedlings, none of which are poor, has been 

 the means of increasing this class to an almost unlimited 

 extent. A choice of these the buyer must make for 

 himself, color or combination being the principal 1 object, 

 there being a marked uniformity in the size of the plants. 



I. cristata (Crested). This is a native American 

 species of very dwarf habit, abundant in the mountain 

 regions of Virginia, Kentucky and southward. The 

 flowers are a delicate lilac, with yellow throat, and finely 

 crested, appearing early in May. As a border plant it 

 has no superior ; it is perfectly hardy and wonderfully 

 floriferous. It is rapidly increased by division, and will 

 thrive anywhere. There are more than fifty other spe- 

 cies of this tuberous-rooted class. 



Japanese Iris (Iris Imvigata, I. Kcempferi). This 

 forms a distinct type, and is the most valuable of 

 the genus for garden decoration. The plants are per- 

 fectly hardy, and strong growers. The flower stalks, if 

 planted in good soil, will grow fully four feet high, with 

 abundance of bloom. The flowers are proportionately 

 large ; they open perfectly flat, are from six to ten inches 

 in diameter, some single, some double, in various shades 

 of color ; pure white, dark purple, maroon, violet and 

 plum, with very distinct pencilings and markings ; 

 some are strangely and beautifully marbled. To have 

 these in perfection the soil should be moist, deep and 

 They are gross feeders, but pay for their keeping. 



