lEISES AND TENDER BULBS 231 



and are seen growing where all are lacking. 

 But feed them once a j^ear, and, just as spring- 

 flowering bulbs are passing with their pageant 

 of bloom, these German irises will reward the 

 planter with a lavish display of beautiful flow- 

 ers. 



And still the list is not ended. There are 

 other varieties, all hardy, all easy of cultiva- 

 tion, making no more demands as far as treat- 

 ment is concerned than their accommodating 

 German relatives, blooming at different sea- 

 sons, and ranging in height from a few inches 

 to three feet. Indeed, this range of height of- 

 fered by the iris family is almost as important 

 to the iris fancier as the range of color and the 

 varying seasons of bloom, for, through the ad- 

 vantages this affords, effective groupings can 

 be arranged, the dwarf sorts in front and the 

 taller-growing varieties in the rear. 



There are a number of the dwarf varieties 

 from which the amateur may select to suit 

 himself. These have been, for some unknown 

 reason, much neglected, but fortunately, in 

 recent years their value has been more ap- 

 preciated, and the great merit they possess has 

 brought them into prominence. There is, for 

 instance, the little Iris pumila, which is, per- 



