POPULAR GARDEN PLANTS. 



manure (not horse -manure, which is unsuit- 

 able). As soon as the plants start into growth 

 in the spring they receive no more manure, 

 but water is again let in 1 to 3 inches deep. 

 They are grown in full sunshine." In this 

 country, to grow them to perfection they 

 should be planted at the margin of streams or 

 ponds, and manured as described above; or in 



Fig. 558.— Iris reticulata. 



gardens where no stream or pond exists they 

 may be successfully grown in the following 

 manner: barrels sawn in half, and with the 

 bottoms knocked out, should be sunk into the 

 ground on lawns, or in connection with the rock- 

 garden. The bottom should be well puddled 

 with stiff clay, on which place a foot of good 

 loam. Then plant the Irises, and manure as 

 they do in Japan at intervals before spring 

 growth commences. These sunken tubs can 

 be easily kept wet during summer. 



Of all Irises the most remarkably handsome 

 and difficult to grow are the so-called Cushion 

 Irises, belonging to the Oncocyclus and Regelia 

 sections. Plant the roots in December (the 

 tops not more than 1J inch below the surface) 

 in a light well-drained soil (without manure), 

 and cover with 3 or 4 inches of wheat-straw, 



or, better still, marsh reeds or cut heather, 

 which remove in March. Immediately these 

 Irises have done flowering, place over the plants 

 a light, or panes of glass elevated 18 inches 

 above the ground, so as to provide for a free 

 entry of air, and at the same time to keep 

 off rain till October. The object desired is to 

 thoroughly ripen the roots, and prevent their 

 starting into growth too early. The covering 

 in winter is to keep off heavy rains, and dis- 

 courage a premature growth. Or the roots may 

 be lifted four or five weeks after they have done 

 flowering, and stored on a dry sunny shelf or in 

 perfectly dry sand till December, when replant. 

 The great beauty of these Irises, especially 

 when seen in established masses, will fully 

 repay the special treatment they require. 



I. TALL RHIZOMATOUS OR BEARDED FLAG IRISES 



(see Plate). 



The flowers in this section are all large and 

 handsome, more or less beautifully mottled in 

 the standards and veined in the falls, while the 

 beards range from delicate primrose to orange. 

 Their beauty at first sight rivals that of the 

 Orchid, but, on closer examination, we have no 

 hesitation in saying they yield points of interest 

 not to be found in the whole of the Orchid 

 family. In colours there are the richest yel- 

 lows, the most intense purples and delicate 

 blues, the softest mauves and very beautiful 

 claret-reds. There are also whites, and prim- 

 roses, and bronzes of every imaginable shade — 

 indeed language fails us in picturing all the 

 beauties of this flower. They thrive in almost 

 any position, but flower best in a rather dry 

 and sunny situation, as on walls and dry banks. 



The varieties are here arranged in natural 

 groups, to facilitate selection. Each group has 

 a distinct character. /. germanica flowers first, 

 and is represented by the blue, purple, and 

 white Flag Irises of our gardens; these bloom 

 together, and are extremely decorative in May; 

 following, in June, come the varieties of /. 

 aphylla, I. amoena, I. negleda, I. pallida, I. squa- 

 lens, and /. variegata, with their beautiful colours 

 and markings 



All are delicately fragrant. 



In the descriptions S. is used to signify Standards, or the erect 

 petals; F. Falls, or the drooping petals. 



Germanica. Common Blue Flag, alba, Fontarabie, 

 Kharput, Kochii, macrantha, Purple King. Siwa-s. 



Aphylla — Floiccrs with bright-coloured frill -like margin 

 on a white groxind. Bridesmaid, delicatissima. Gazelle, 

 Madame Chereau, Swertii. 



Amozna — Standards white ; colours of Falls various. 

 Alice Barr, Calypso, Comte de St. Clair, Due de Xemours, 



