1 86 Tall Bearded Iris 



as described under How to Plant, page 173. A better 

 way is to cut the clump into portions as it stands 

 in the ground and remove all but one — disturbing 

 that one as little as possible — reset them, and fill 

 with fresh soil the hole from which they were taken. 

 (As to dividing clumps, see under How to Plant, 

 page I75-) 



Winter Protection. — Irises planted in the fall, 

 especially if planted late, and more especially if planted 

 in a heavy soil, should be given a covering of an inch 

 or so of some light material that will not pack and 

 hold moisture — as, loose straw (not chaff) — as soon as 

 the ground freezes — not to protect them from the 

 cold, but to prevent them from being lifted out of 

 the ground by alternate freezing and thawing (Fig. 

 XLIV, page 160). 



When winter frosts constrain the field with cold, 

 The fainty root can take no steady hold. 



Virgil: Georgic II {Dryden's tr.). 



Straw is sometimes objectionable as a covering 

 because of its liability to contain seed of quackgrass. 

 The tops of gladioli, tomato vines or even Iris leaves, 

 which have been spread out thinly in the sun and 

 dried and then stored under cover, will answer and 

 will be less objectionable on account of weed-seed. 

 If no other more suitable covering can be obtained 



