206 HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS. 



IRIS A. large genup. There are fully 100 species ; the varieties 

 of some of them are numerous. The genus is divided into two sections, 

 [n one section, known as Xiphions, the species have tuberous root- 

 stocks; one or two of them, such as I. reticulata and I. persica, produce 

 the flowers before the leaves. Most of the species have thick rhizomes, 

 which creep along the surface of the soil, or a short distance beneath. 

 To this section most of the very numerous garden varieties belong. They 

 are known as German Irises, but having been in cultivation for a long 

 time, it is impossible to tell just from what species some of them have 

 originated. The species which are commonly included among the Ger- 

 man Irises are I. neglecta, I. squalens, I. variegata and I. germanica. 

 Numerous varieties have sprung from each species, and from these there 

 are evidently many cross breeds. I. germanica is a handsome species. 

 I. g. alba is pure white, very early in blooming, and forces well. I. g. 

 velveteen has dark purple falls and standards. The flowers of the 

 known varieties of the I. phylla have a white ground, with the margins 

 marked lavender and purple. Mme. Chereau is a well-known form. 

 I. plicata is white frilled with blue. The varieties of I. amoena have the 

 standards usually white and the falls variously marked with violet blue. 

 In I. variegata the very numerous varieties have the standards yellow; 

 the falls are of a wide range of color dark yellow, maroon, dark purple 

 and crimson brown. The forms of I. squalens have the standards copper- 

 bronze and fawn colored, and the falls among other colors are maroon, 

 purple, bronzy-yellow, violet and lavender. I. pallida has lavender 

 standards, and the falls of the same color shaded with rose. I. p. dal- 

 matica is a very large and sweetly-scented flower one of the best in 

 cultivation; the standards and falls are deep lavender. In the varieties 

 of I. neglecta the standards range in color from lavender to purple, and 

 the falls crimson, purple, violet, white and intermediate shades. I. 

 florentina is almost pure white, and comes into flower from the 15th to 

 the end of May. I. pumila, a d warf species, is usually out of bloom early 

 in May ; it has many fine varieties. I. cristata is a native of the Eastern 

 States, and is well adapted for half-shaded places in the rockery. It is 

 the dwarfest of all the rhizomatous species. I. versicolor and I. pseudo- 

 acorus, although thriving under conditions which suit most of the gar- 

 den forms, will do better when the soil is continually moist. I. graminea 

 and I. sibirica are both worthy of cultivation; they have long, narrow 

 leaves, and small flowers. I. l*vigata, better known as I. Kaempferi, 

 will also thrive in borders, especially when given a deep mulch of well- 

 rotted manure; but they show up to better advantage when grown in 

 fairly moist ground. This species is one of the latest to bloom ; it has 

 many varieties, some of which are very large and showy. The expanded 

 flowers, when used for cutting, will not stand much handling; but the 

 buds, when nearly full size, will open out when placed in water; in this 

 condition they may be shipped long distances. 



Propagation Most of the bulbous species are offered at reasonable 

 prices by dealers. The rhizomatous species and forms may be rapidly 

 increased by division. Large masses may be reduced in size and re- 

 planted early in March without interfering with the crop of flowers. In 

 dividing into smaller pieces, it is better to wait until the plants have 



