378 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



above. The vessels of dark-colored glass are preferable to those of 

 clear glass, as roots prefer darkness. ' When the glasses have been filled, 

 they are set away in a cool, dark place, where roots will form, as in 

 potted bulbs. Results are usually secured earlier in water than in soil. 

 To keep the water sweet, a few lumps of charcoal may be put in the 

 glass. As the water evaporates, add fresh; add enough so that it runs 

 over, and thereby renews that in the glass. Do not disturb the roots 

 by taking out the bulb. 



Iris includes many handsome perennials, of which the blue flag is 

 familiar to every old-fashioned garden. They are favorites everywhere, 

 for their brilliant spring and summer bloom; and they are easy to grow. 



Most irises thrive best in a rather moist soil, and some of them may 

 be colonized in the water in margins of ponds. 



Gardeners usually divide them into two sections — the tuberous- 

 rooted or rhizomatous, and the bulbous. A third division — the 

 fibrous-rooted — is sometimes made. 



The common and most serviceable species belong to the tuberous- 

 rooted section. Here is the beautiful and varied Japanese iris, Iris 

 loevigata (or I. KcBmpferi), which is among the most deserving of aU 

 hardy perennials. Most of these irises need no special care. They are 

 propagated by division of the rootstocks. Plant the pieces one foot 

 apart if a mass effect is desired. When the plants begin to fail, dig 

 them up, divide the roots, discard the old parts, and grow a new stock, 

 as before. The Japanese iris needs much water and a very rich soil. 

 Readily grown from seeds, giving bloom the second year. I. Susiana, 

 of this section, is one of the oddest of irises, but it is not quite hardy 

 in the North. 



Of the bulbous section, most species are not hardy far North. 

 The bulbs should be taken up and replanted every two or three years. 

 The Persian and Spanish irises belong here. The bulbs give rise to 

 but a single stem. 



Lily. — Under this name are included bulbous plants of many kinds, 

 not all of them being true lilies. It has been said of this family of 

 plants that it has no "poor relations," each of them being perfect in 

 itself. Many of the choicest kinds are comparatively unknown, al- 



