A FLOWER HOBBY 233 
Of the easiest irises there are a dozen or more 
species; and as these bloom in April, May, June 
and July, the hobby opportunities are enough to 
bring contentment without going in for those that 
require coddling. The latter are a small army. 
There are more than thirty bulbous and tuberous- 
rooted species that are hardy in England where 
they bloom from November to June, and fifteen of 
the cushion irises, mostly from Palestine. Some of 
these, J. reticulata, I. pavonia, I. alata and I. 
susiana, have been wintered outdoors in this country 
and there are others that would survive with the 
protection that they get abroad. The truth is that 
more plants would prove hardy in American gar- 
dens if they were given the care that they have in 
England. There the gardeners not only take all 
pains to place tender plants in sheltered spots and 
to give them winter protection to suit their individ- 
ual needs, but small glass frames—hand ones— 
are used freely in winter and spring and also to 
enable bulbs and tubers to secure their required 
“dry season” after blooming. 
The rose genus is a fascinating field for a flower 
hobby along lines that have seldom been tried by 
the amateur. There are a great many species, both 
bush and climbing; and if the space is available, a 
fair representation of these will make a collection 
of practically assured permanence. Anyone who 
takes up species in this way will find their beauty a 
revelation and will not wonder that single roses 
stand so high in culture today. Ora species may be 
