198 ALPINES AND BOG-PLANTS 



like weeds, but sometimes they utterly refuse to flower — 

 yes, although they may have grown into masses many 

 yards in width. But perish this disheartening thought ! 

 Down with it into the depths of the darkest cupboard at 

 the back of my consciousness ! 



Of the larger bearded Irises little more remains to tell. 

 There are some fine garden hybrids, of which Queen 

 Emma and Queen of May stand pre-eminent. Statellae 

 is of medium size, with globose flowers of sulphur-yellow ; 

 samhucina is particoloured and not conspicuous by the 

 side of germanica and pallida ; as much may be said of 

 biflora, subbiflora, intermedia. But I have a magnificent 

 stout Unknown from the shores of Como, which, at 

 present, I suspect of being nearly related to pallida ; this 

 is very stalwart and tall, with leaves as fierce and broad 

 as a Phormium's, and rare illustrious flowers of a lavender 

 that verges towards rose. Finally, of all these bearded 

 Irids, there is not one that will not thrive like grass 

 in any deep, well-drained soil, in any open, sunny 

 aspect. 



Of the bulbous Irids I will now speak, but with tender- 

 ness and the delicacy of Agag. Indeed, in all I say on 

 Iris, I hope I may be understood to be speaking with the 

 most shrinking modesty. I am in no sense a connoisseur 

 or specialist on Iris. I specialise on too many other 

 things ; and, besides, my anti-Irid climate forbids. 

 Therefore, though I have a number of species and 

 varieties, they are for purposes of decoration only, not 

 collation ; and I wander helpless among their names, as a 

 sheep that has no shepherd. Therefore let my unknown 

 correspondents, whose letters I so enjoy, be kindly in 

 their comments, and not scold ; respecting my intrepidity 

 more than they reprehend my ignorant rashness in ven- 

 turing on so tangled a topic, of which, perhaps, they 

 themselves are perfect masters. The Irises are a difficult 



