164 Tall Bearded Iris 



start; cut off the roots, for they would dry up anyhow 

 during storage; put the rhizomes in a dry, shady, 

 airy place for several days (long enough for them to 

 cure or dry but not shrivel) ; put in a cool dry cellar, 

 on the floor if it is not damp, loosely in a thin layer. 

 They should be looked over occasionally to see that 

 they are not becoming damp as that might result in 

 their molding. If the cellar is not dry it will be well 

 to put them in a box of dry sand or soil, on a shelf; 

 or in a box of dry sand or soil they can be stored in 

 an out-building, or even out of doors if the box is 

 covered so as to exclude snow and rain. Freezing will 

 do but little injury if they thaw gradually. 



If the rhizomes are stored, or allowed to become, 

 too moist, decay sometimes results. When it occurs 

 cut the rhizome back to fresh tissue and thoroughly 

 air-cure. 



WHAT TO PLANT.— All Irises are beautiful, 

 though some are more beautiful than others. Tastes, 

 however, differ so much that selection of varieties 

 must be largely a matter of individual preference. 



The wide difference of tastes is well illustrated in 

 the "Iris Symposium" (see under Symposium in 

 Chapter XIV). As especially noticeable instances 

 the various ratings on each of a few of the varieties 

 therein rated are given below. The ratings (on a 

 scale of ID — "10" being perfection not yet attained) 

 are indicated between the horizontal lines, and the 

 number of votes on each rating is indicated between 

 perpendicular lines. All ratings below 5, are indicated 

 by a -5. 



