226 YARD AND GARDEN 



of both should be planted liberally. At least 

 twenty-five should be set in a group ; more 

 would be better. The bulbs are inexpensive, 

 costing from seventj'-five cents to one dollar a 

 hundred, the English being the more expensive 

 of the two, and should be planted in the au- 

 tumn three or four inches deep and five or six 

 inches apart. They are entirely hardy, but 

 should be planted early in order to enable them 

 to make some growth in the fall before hard 

 frost comes ; and they will be all the better for 

 a slight winter covering. 



There are a few other species of the tall- 

 growing bulbous irises — though none grows 

 higher than eighteen inches — which could be 

 planted to advantage. One, for instance, is 

 Iris juncea and another is the rare I. Boissieri, 

 but these are seldom to be had from American 

 nurserymen, except on special order. Still, 

 even when imported, their cost is compara- 

 tively small. The first, however, is not hardy 

 in the north, and the other requires heavy win- 

 ter protection. A third variety which can be 

 obtained in this country is Iris reticulata; it 

 is a native of Palestine, and is one of the 

 prettiest and sweetest of spring flowers, com- 

 ing into bloom with the crocus. It is absolutely 



