mis 



regions of Africa are the home of bulbous forms. In 

 southwestern Asia are found nut only broad-leaved 

 forms, but this rei^ion is also the homo of a rudi variety 

 of dainty bulbous kinds aud the curious Oucocyclus 

 species. 



As will be seen by their distribution, Irises are espe- 

 cially adapted by their hardiness to growth in our j^-ar- 

 dens, thou;j:b some forms, as the African, the Indian, 

 and the Uncocyclus species, need special treatment or 

 protection. In the main the Irises, from a cultural point 

 of view, are like others of nature's various families, 

 mostly very y;ood — not to say commonplace — with a 

 few decidedly bad members. As there are nearly 170 

 species of Irises, with countless varieties, they are in- 

 teresting to the amateur collector and grower both for 

 their variety and their general beauty of flower. 



The life of Iris flowers varies from three to six days. 

 They are fragile, but if cut l)efore the petals unroll may 

 be forwarded to considerable distance without injury. 

 This is the ouly way, in fact, by which the florist can 

 market them. The botanists divide the Irises into two 

 main groups, the bulbous kind and those with rhizomes, 

 these groups being each divided by the varying charac- 

 ters of the more or less raised line in the middle of the 

 fall of the flower. This, of course, gives no clue to cul- 

 tural necessities or to time of flowering, two important 

 details in a garden. 



Considering the bulbous Irises as a group, these are 

 all hardy without protection in the latitude of New York 

 city except /. Histrlo, I. <flaf<(, I. Juncea, I. Pala^stinn , 

 I, Timjitana, I. Vartuni. 



In the order of their flowering, the reticulata group 

 is the earliest, /. Bakeriitna and others starting into 

 riower as soon as released by frost, usually in February 

 or March. These are soon followed by the others of 

 this group, the largest-flowered member being /. /(;,s-- 

 trioides. A peaty, sandy soil seems to be most accept- 

 able to this group, and no organic manure must be 

 given them. A location, if possible, where they may be 

 kept on the side of dryness in summer is desirable. The 

 culture of these, like that of all exotic plants in our gar- 

 dens, is, of course, tentative. If, on trial, they seem to 

 be happy and increase from offsets or buds, they nniy 

 remain in the borders indeflnitely, but if during the 

 second season they show no gain, the bulbs should bt^ 

 lifted and a trial made in another location. This group 

 seeds freely, and the seed pods will l^e found just under 

 the soil surface. 



Closely following this group are the so-called Juno 

 Irises, of which /. Pcrsica is the most familiar, though 

 not the best example. These Irises have soraewhut large 

 bulbs, with curious, persistent, fleshy roots, aud seem 

 to thrive best in somewhat stitf soil, in sheltered loca- 

 tions, where they will be well baked during the summer. 

 They flower in Marcli and April, the best forms being 

 /. B.o.s-enbaehiaua , f. orrhloidf.'i. I. Studjareu.-iis, and 

 /. Assf/riaca. They are desirable plants in the most 

 exclusive gardens. They soed freely, and also increase 

 by offsets. 



Abont the same time tis above will flower the /r/.s' 

 tnbi'rosa ("The Widow "), which is neither bulbous nor 

 an Iris strictly, but has a weird Iieauty of its own, with 

 its green and black flowers. This should have a summer 

 baking. (See Hermodacfiihis. ) 



Planted out in the early fall, the so-called Spanish 

 Irises make an early start and produce leaves which are 

 persistent during the winter and seldom injured here. 

 In ]\tay and June they broaden out, aud are then sur- 

 mounted by verj' bright, distinct and charming flow- 

 ers. Very satisfactory flowers, these, and of the easiest 

 culture. They probably do best in spots inclining to 

 moisture. The bulbs rnake offsets rapidly, and should 

 often be divided and replanted. There are two forms 

 and numerous flowers of this Iris. The boldest form is 

 that known as the "Thunderbolt." 



The "English" Irises, /. .r/pliioide.^, follow the 

 "Spanish " in June and July. Their flowers are wider in 

 all th(ur parts, and in a limited range of colors, white 

 and purple. "Mt. Blanc," pure white, is probably the 

 most satisfactory of the group. The foliage of the 

 English Iris <loes not spear till early spring, and the 

 varieties flourish in a rather drier position than the 

 "Spanish." 



IRIS 



821 



The African bulbous Irises, /. ji(iii-i',i, /". I'midiii, 

 I. iiliilti, are subjects for a coolhouse, thuu;;!! the toi- 

 mer is rarel)' hardy Ijere. 



The rhizoiuatous Irises may be divided into a number 

 o( sections, init in a cultural way may be broadly con- 

 sidered in two sections : those with thick, surface- 

 creeping rhizomes, as the hybrid German, and those 

 with more or less thin ones, as /. I'iibiriea and /. 

 Iwfiijiita, which are subterranean. While the former 

 section comprises plants which grow in various condi- 

 tions, some with the roots submerged, yet in a general 

 way they have mostly surface-creeping rhizomes. These 

 are best transplanted soon after dowering, at which 

 time they commence a new growth. It is customary for 

 the nurserymen to supply these in the fall, which usually 

 leads to the loss of a season, as they often fail to become 

 established when planted late. The foliage of the Iris 

 indicates a sun-loving family, and Irises should be 

 planted in full exposure in rich, but not manured soil, 

 well drained. The rhizomes shouhl bo planted Hat and 

 covered to half their diameter. If the rhizomes are in 

 a growing condition, no further care will usually be 

 necessary with the great majority of the species, tint if 

 the rhizomes are dormant and partly dried up, as they 

 are frequently on receipt, care should he taken that they 

 have not much moisture till they start into growth, 

 otherwise they are likely to rot. Not every Iris will 

 grow in every ganlen, but the failure to establish these 

 plants is most often caused by too unich exposure to 

 excitement of light, warmth and moisture when the plant 

 is not ready to convert its reserve into food. Valuable 

 species should have the protection of a frame in such 

 circumstances till it seems safe to plant them out. If 

 carefully treated and not excited, apparently hopeless 

 dried up rhizomes may often be saved. Most of these 

 Irises in common cultivation increase rapidiv, and 

 should be divided and replanted every two or three 

 years; otherwise the rhizomes become matted and the 

 abode of grass, etc. Among them will be found some of 

 the showiest flowers of the family. 



Usually in early I\Iay we have flowers of F. ('Jniiiiipirix 

 and its variety /. < l/hiciisis, followed i|uickly by the 

 dwarf er /. pinnihi and its white form I. A llini. forms 

 of /. lutescnis, Lam., ([uickly follow, after which J. 

 Orrma)i/cii , [. Fltii-euthut and the host of " hybrid Ger- 

 man" varieties c<ime rapidly forward and give a great 

 wealth of color. Every one is familiar witli the great 

 bearded purple f. O'^'rina iiica, perliaps the most gener- 

 ally cultivated Iris. There are larger-fld. forms of this: 

 /. Am/is and /. niinra iiflia . I. (Tfrnuni/rn alba seems 

 to be a variety of / . uHilm n^. This and 7. Flnrrnlimi 

 are the usual white-tld. forms seen at this Time, rtf 

 bold, lighter purple kinds, /. paUida ami its hybrids 

 are then preeminent. 



The (Ternuin Irises of tiie garden are not varieties of 

 /. Oeriiuf uicff , but hybrids of various species, as I. pal- 

 lldfi, I. i'(triega/t( , I. ."^diubnchin , /. squtdeii.'^, I . lurUht 

 X wikl forms and /. necjlecta, I. amrriut, {, plirufrt and 

 /. StCL'rtU, which are known only in gardens. Naturally 

 these vary much in stature, time of flowering, size and 

 coloring of fls. They may be had in almost endless va- 

 riety, but a typical collection may be made with com- 

 paratively few plants. 



Among the best f(>rms of the "hybrid (lerman " Irises 

 are: /. aphylhi — Bridesmaid, IMadame Chereau, Swer- 

 tii; /. aiiiGPiia — i'oin[)te de St. Clair, Fairy Queen, Bi- 

 tli'tthifri (flba ,Victorme; I. ntY/^f't'fa. — Cordelia, Wagner; 

 /. /)(/?/(>;« — Khedive, Mad. Pacquitte, Queen of JMay. 

 Walmer ; /. sqifalens — Amols, -Jacquiniana, Harrison 

 ^^'eir, Mous. Cherion; I. jvn-/ff/rt/a~Beaconsfield, Da- 

 rius, Hector, Honorable, Prince of Orange. 



-Tune is flowering time for many Iris species, many of 

 which are uncommon, but of the more availal>ie forms 

 one could scarcely neglect the native /. hexagoyut, the 

 dark La Mance iform of which is very distinct and 

 amongst tlie handsomest of the family. A white form 

 of this is not har<ly here. /. fulfil, another native plant 

 with copper-colored flowers, is also interesting. Irises 

 with distinct forms of this season are /. Monuieri and 

 r. orieittalis (or /. orhroJenca), both of wliich have ob- 

 liquely growing rhizomes and enjoy moisture. 



For margins of water T. PsmrJitconis. with yellow fls., 

 is invaluable, aud our natives, /. rer.'<i''oInr and /. 0'ir"~ 



