200 ALPINES AND BOG-PLANTS 



not easily to be surpassed. As for the Irises of the 

 tuhergeniana group — sindjarensis, zvillmottiana, orchi- 

 oeides — for these I should never have any use, not even if 

 I dwelt in Paradise and found the winters suitable. 

 These Irises are all of a densely leafy habit, and, from 

 the spire of flopping foliage, pierce flowers which, by 

 comparison, are insignificant and dull. Iris minuta and 

 Iris arenaria are novelties yet, of which I have no chance 

 to speak. Minuta is but newly arrived from Japan, and 

 I expect more from it in the way of health and charm 

 than I do from the sand-craving arenaria, which, from 

 its habit, threatens to be an abhorrer of damp. 



The Irises of the grass-leaved group are rather incal- 

 culable than difficult. The first in importance is Iris 

 ungmcularis, more commonly i<nown as Iris styhsa. Few 

 plants differ more in habit according to circumstances. 

 In the South of France you will see it used as the edging 

 to beds on the blazing Mediterranean slope of Provence, 

 and there its foliage sinks into utter minute insignificance, 

 and the whole edging is a solid line of what looks like 

 magnified brilliant blossoms of crocus iridiflorus, dowered 

 with a delicious fragrance to which the Crocus is a 

 stranger. Then, again, you will see Iris unguicularis 

 thriving in an English garden, making a tall, close 

 jungle of leaves, lush and lanky enough to be confused 

 with the dishevelled clumps of the common Gladwin. 

 And there, far down in the thicket, nestle here and there 

 the wide sweet lavender cups of blossom. In point of 

 fact, the intense heat and sunlight of the south are the 

 plant's favourite conditions, minimising leafage, and 

 educing the most reckless generosity in the matter of 

 bloom. But Iris ungmcularis is of accommodating 

 temper, and, with any fair treatment, in good light soil, 

 in an open position, sheltered from the worst violence of 

 the wind, it will prosper and develop as imperturbably 



