2 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



The Spanish iris usually produces two to three flowers on 

 a stem, and the English iris is usually one-flowered; but 

 they both vary in this respect, and the number of flowers 

 on a stem is no trustworthy criterion for distinguishing 

 the species. The natural colour of the Spanish iris is 

 azure-blue, but there are many varieties in which shades 

 of yellow and chestnut appear. The English iris is sky- 

 blue, with darker shades and a bold yellow spot on the 

 external divisions. As regards their requirements and 

 mode of growth and flowering there is no difference 

 whatever. Where the one sort thrives, there also will the 

 other, and they make very pretty beds and border groups. 

 As bedding-plants, however, they are of small value, 

 because their beauty so soon passes away. 



To grow these beautiful flowers in a satisfactory 

 manner, they should have a deep sandy soil, not of a dry 

 starving nature, and not swampy or boggy. As border 

 flowers both these sections of the iris family are worthy of 

 attention, as the colours they lend to a collection of hardy 

 plants differ much from such as commonly prevail in their 

 season of flowering, and they are interesting flowers for 

 observation in detail. One advantage in using these as 

 border flowers rather than as bedders is that when the 

 clumps die out, as they are apt to do, they are scarcely 

 missed, whereas it is a great vexation, when beds have 

 been well furnished and are expected to improve, to find 

 them marred by gaps or weak places where they ought, 

 according to the ordinary run of experiences, to be at their 

 very best. On warm, dry, sandy soils perhaps the losses 

 we have become familiar with do not occur. It has been 

 our lot to be compelled to prepare soils especially for 

 plants of this class, by carting in material, and mixing 



