The Iris. 243 



their departure, and the Fleur de Lis is once more left to spangle 

 the royal robes of France. Shakspcarc wrote : 



Lilies of all kinds, 

 The Fleur de Luce being one, 



his botanical knowledge not being sufficient to distinguish the 

 two. 



It is certainly a great recommendation to these plants, that 

 while some of the kinds blossom in early spring, others succeed 

 them in every month until late in the fall. Their easy propaga- 

 tion and hardy nature render it unnecessary to dwell upon their 

 culture; but, as Phillips says, we cannot leave the Iris of Flora 

 without strongly recommending it a more frequent situation in 

 every pleasure ground than it now occupies. It is a species of 

 flower that gardeners seem to have cultivated with great delight 

 on account of its rich and varying colors, for while it equals the 

 bow of Iris in the softness of the tints of some of its varieties, the 

 petals of others excel in*ichncss the celebrated purple of Tyre, 

 whilst other kinds exhibit a color so opposite and of so vivid a 

 dye, as to be made emblematical of Flame. As it has been 

 brought from every quarter of the globe, so would we see it 

 flourish in every part of our grounds, and even in the waters ; 

 for Scott says : * 



"Where waves the bulrush as the waters glide. 

 And yellow flag flowers deck the sunny side. 



It is difficult to imagine an effect more agreeable to the eye 

 than clumps of these yellow flowers reflected in the blue waters 

 of our winding streams and ornamental lakes. The embellish- 

 ment of such situations in general is too little understood and 

 less attended to. We would not wish to see the banks of rivers 

 bearing visible marks of art, but the naked expanse of artificial 

 lakes is unnatural. A proportion of aquatic plants is necessary to 

 keep up a harmony of coloring, and to soften the abruptness of 

 the change which catches the eye when waters are too suddenly 

 contrasted with the land ; when of sufficient size to maintain fish 

 and aquatic birds, we should never fail to set aquatic plants, 

 which nature instructs us to be necessary for their shelter, food, 

 and medicine. In situations where it may be desirable to keep 

 the waters free from plants, there can be no objection to the banks* 



