116 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 
Sow seeds in June or July to obtain good plants for 
blooming the second summer. Some varieties will bloom 
very late the first season if the seeds are sown early in 
the spring. 
Tue Iris 
Native varieties of iris may be found in nearly all 
sections of the United States. Jris versicolor, or the 
large blue flag, is an excellent plant for the edge of a 
pond or for a marsh that is covered with water during 
the spring. The flowers are violet-blue, variegated with 
green, yellow, or white, and are purple veined. The 
stem is stout and angled on one side. After the bloom- 
ing period the sword-shaped leaves make a luxuriant 
growth. Jris germanica, the true fleur-de-lis, may be 
grown in gardens under ordinary culture if given rich 
soil and an abundance of water. The finest blooms 
are obtained from established clumps ; consequently they 
should remain undisturbed after planting. Set the roots 
in clumps of three or more, four inches deep and _pro- 
tected with leaves or other mulch during the winter. 
Iris kempferi, or Japanese iris, has very large flowers 
of beautiful shades. This is considered one of the best 
varieties either for borders or for bedding. The prevail- 
ing colors are white, crimson, rose, lilac, lavender, violet, 
and blue. Each flower usually contains several shades. 
Give it the same attention that is given the German 
iris. Plants may also be produced from seed. 
