IRISES AND TENDER BULBS 223 



chose, plant a garden, large or small, with 

 irises and nothing else, and have for his pains 

 a wonderful procession of wonderful flowers 

 from early spring to late summer, and then, 

 if he cared to fill in the winter months, con- 

 tinue the succession indoors in window garden 

 or conservatory. In fact, it is possible, with 

 but the slightest effort and with but ordinary 

 conditions — such as a sunny window — to have 

 iris blooms every month in the year. 



The Iris, or, as it is popularly known, the 

 fleur-de-lis or rainbow flower, has more than 

 one hundred and seventy species, of which as 

 many as one hundred have been cultivated by 

 American floriculturists. In England, where 

 the flower is more appreciated, more than one 

 hundred and fifty species are grown by iris 

 fanciers. Of the number grown in America, 

 seventy-five might safely be attempted by the 

 skilled amateur, and this number itself is but 

 a small fraction of the number of varieties 

 which have been produced by cross-fertiliza- 

 tion and selection to contribute generously to 

 garden ornamentation. 



When consideration is had of the possibili- 

 ties these figures suggest, surely we will no 

 longer look upon the "German" varieties as the 



