4 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



brief practical directions. In the first place, then, it 

 should be borne in mind that Kaempfer's iris requires a 

 very moist soil in the growing season ; it is, indeed, some- 

 what of a marsh plant. It follows that, in preparing a 

 bed for it in any position that is not naturally very damp, 

 the bed should be somewhat below the general level, so as 

 to retain much of the summer rain, as also of water given 

 by manual labour. Another point of importance is to 

 plant in a rich deep loamy soil, and to lay on the bed a 

 few inches of fat manure. 



In addition there are two noble species worthy the 

 attention of those who value really choice plants. They are 

 Iris iheriea (already mentioned) and Iris sits/ana. They 

 produce very large and singularly marked flowers, wanting 

 perhaps in what superficial observers call beauty, but truly 

 beautiful and somewhat remarkable for all that. These 

 noble species are hardy in the more favoured parts of the 

 south and west, but in the neighbourhood of London they 

 require to be grown in a frame or greenhouse. 



