IRIS 



THE BULB BOOK 



lEIS 



Irises enjoy a certain amount of 

 chalk or lime in the soil. 



The rhizomes should not be planted 

 too deeply, otherwise the growths 

 are apt to come up weakly, and the 

 flower-spikes may fail to develop. 

 In heavy soils, the rhizomes may be 

 covered with about 2 ins. of soil, 

 while another ^ in. or so may be added 

 in light or friable soils. The roots, 

 when present on the rhizomes, should 

 be carefully spread out and not 

 huddled together, so as to encourage 

 the development of thread-like fibres 

 before the winter sets in. 



The best time to plant the rhizomes 

 is from the beginning to the end of 

 October. There is no real necessity 

 to plant before the middle of Sep- 

 tejnber ; but on the other hand, it is 

 very detrimental — if not fatal — to 

 keep the plants out of the ground 

 until November. 



Although the Eegelio-Cyclus Irises 

 are hardy, it is advisable to plant 

 them in the warmest and most 

 sheltered part of the garden if the 

 best results are to be secured. They 

 like plenty of sunshine to enable 

 them to come to early maturity. 

 The best position, therefore, for them 

 would be on a sheltered border 

 facing due south, and one in which 

 the soil has been dug and manured as 

 recommended above. 



During the summer months the 

 leaves begin to fade. This indicates 

 the approach of maturity and the 

 gradual cessation of growth, and 

 brings the season to about the middle 

 of July. At this time the rhizomes 

 should be carefully lifted and allowed 

 to dry in a shady spot for a few days, 

 after which the leaves may be cut 

 down, the roots trimmed a little, 

 and the rhizomes stored away in dry 

 sand or earth until the time for 

 planting again comes round. 



IV.— "Bulbous" 

 "Juno" 



/. Aitchisoni (J.). 



I. alata (J.) 



I. Baheriana. 



I. Boissieri. 



J. caucasica (J.). 



I. Danfordice (J.). 



I. flifolia. 



I. Fosteriana (J.). 



I.fumosa (J.). 



J. jwncea. 



I. Kolpahowshi- 



ana. 

 I. orchioides (J.). 



OE " XiPHION " AND 



(J) Ibises. 



/. persica (■/.), 

 /. reticulata. 

 I. Rosenhachiana 



{J.). . 

 1. serotina. 

 . I. sindjarensis (J.). 

 J. Sisyrinchi-um. 

 I. stenophylla. 

 I. tingitana. 

 I. tuberosa. 

 I. Yartani. 

 I. xiphioides. 

 I. XipMum. 



CuLTUEE, ETC. — The " Bulbous " 

 Irises are a charming group, and are 

 gradually winning their way into 

 many gardens. Many, however, are 

 merely of botanical interest. The 

 best-known examples are the Spanish 

 Irises (/. Xiphium), and the English 

 Irises (/. xiphiddes), which have 

 been grown for many years, the 

 Spanish Irises being especial 

 favourites, not only in private 

 gardens, but in market gardens. 

 Most of the plants in this section 

 have a roundish or spindle-shaped 

 bulb or root-stock, from which arise 

 narrow, ribbed, furrowed, or grass- 

 like leaves, and flowers of beautiful 

 colour. 



With some of the rarer kinds 

 attention must be given to cultural 

 details. A warm sunny position 

 should be chosen, and the soil should 

 be deeply dug and of a rich and 

 gritty nature. Once planted, they 

 are best left undisturbed for three 

 or four years, until they become well 

 established and perhaps too close 

 together. The best and safest time 

 for lifting the bulbs is when the 

 leaves have withered. The large and 

 small bulbs should be separated from 

 each other and replanted in different 

 places. When the stock of any par- 



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