174 Tall Bearded Iris 



that they may the better resist the action of frost, 

 fill the hole — firming well the soil about the rhizome 

 and roots — cover the top of the rhizome with but an 

 inch or so of soil and water enough to thoroughly 

 settle the plant in place. A light cover will conserve 

 moisture and hasten the development of new roots, but 

 too deep a cover will be likely to result in rot and in 

 delay of development of branches subsequently sent out 

 by the rhizome. (See Fig. XII, page 117, and accompany- 

 ing statement.) If the planting is done in the spring, 

 with dormant stored rhizomes, there will usually be 

 no roots to cover, and the above method can be varied 

 accordingly. As to the rhizomes eventually coming 

 to the surface, see under Rhizome, page 118. 



After the planting is done, no more water should 

 be given until growth begins, or the rhizome will be 

 likely to decay. (See under Cultivation in Chapter 

 VII.) 



Such care in planting — except that the rhizome 

 should not be any more deeply covered — is not es- 

 sential to success, but it will be well repaid by the 

 extra results that will be thus obtained. 



If little labor, little are our gains; 



Man's fortunes are according to his pains. 



Herrick: Hesperides. 



Commercial growers adopt more expeditious meth- 

 ods. Thus one in Minnesota:* 



*Mr. Willis E. Fryer, in Vol. VII "The Flower Grower", p. io6. 



