36 



The Readers' Service will aid you 

 in planning your vacation trip 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



August, 1JM1 



J 



Stained with Cabot's Sh 



, McGrath & Shepard Arch 'to, S. Y. 



The Advantages of 



Cabot's Shingle Stains 



Soft, rich and artistic coloring effects. 

 Cost less than half as much as paint. 

 Can be quickly and easily applied by anyone, at half the 



cost of painting. 

 Made of Creosote, which thoroughly preserves the wood. 

 Guaranteed fast colors. 

 Suitable and appropriate for the smallest bungalow or the 



finest residence. 



You can get Cabot's Stains all over the Country. Send for 

 samples of stained wood and name of nearest agent. 



Samuel Cabot, Inc., Mfg. Chemist, 1 Oliver St. , Boston, Mass. 



iSr 



Grow Mushrooms 



For Big and Quick Profits 



I can give practical instructions worth many 

 dollars to you. No matter what your occupa- 

 tion is or where located, get a thorough knowl- 

 edge of this paying business. Particulars free. 



JACKSON MUSHROOM FARM 

 6808 M. Western Ave. Chicago 



Thorburn's Lawn Grass Seeds 



Containing a mixture of the finest grasses; quarts, 25c; 

 2 qts., 45c; 4 qts., 80c. Sent prepaid by mail to any 

 address inthe United States. Write for Catalogue "G." 

 J. M. Thorburn & Co., 33 Barclay St., New York 



Have You Decided Upon a School? 



^ If not, the World's Work Handbook of Schools may 



be of assistance to you in making a final choice. Several 

 articles by leading educators will offer you helpful suggestions 

 about the type of school that should best fit your needs. 



^ In addition, the handbook contains a classified directory 

 of a large number of private schools of undoubted standing 

 and excellence, with concise and definite information about 

 the advantages of each. 



•J The book is yours for the asking. Address 



Manager School Department 



The World's Work 



Garden City New York 



Some Irises for California 

 Gardens 



AS ANY real specialist will want his particular 

 flower in whatever part of the world he 

 may be, it was early a matter of interest to me 

 how California was adapted to growing iris, my 

 particular enthusiasm. I now feel justified in 

 saying that it is surely the "promised land," for 

 not only is the season longer, the growth more 

 vigorous and the bloom more profuse, but we 

 can grow more species outdoors than any other 

 part of America. 



With the awakening rains of November Iris 

 stylosa begins its season which extends throughout 

 the rains. The /. reticulata varieties quickly 

 follow, and from January to March the cushion 

 or oncocyclus iris are in bloom. All through 

 February and March the dwarf bearded varieties 

 keep up a procession which is continued through 

 April into May by their tall bearded relatives; 

 and contemporaneously with these flower the gay 

 Spanish iris and such kinds as /. Sibirica and 

 ochroleuca. Late May brings in the English, and 

 the big Japanese flowers closely follow them and 

 extend the season into early July. In addition, 

 from Central California north there are several 

 wild species well worthy of garden space, Iris 

 Douglasiana in shades of lilac and rosy purple 

 with a buff variety, and Iris longipetala in blue 

 and white, forming fine clumps under cultivation 

 if they be taken after the first fall rains and given 

 as nearly as possible their natural conditions of 

 soil and moisture. 



Oncocyclus. The best known and easiest to 

 grow of this type is the huge gray " mourning iris " 

 I. Susiana. Some others cheap and worthy of trial 

 are Mariae, Bismarckiana and Iberica. Like all 

 winter-flowering iris they prefer a southern 

 exposure, and means should be at hand to protect 

 flowers open during heavy rains. Soil must be 

 well drained, with preference for that of a 

 gritty nature. As lime seems particularly pleas- 

 ing to them it may be supplied in that always 

 available and easily handled form, bonemeal. 

 Plant the roots shallowly as soon as procurable 

 after September and induce a strong fall growth 

 by watering. During the dormant season when 

 they die down keep them quite dry, a simple matter 

 in our dry summer. Never move them while 

 they continue to do well. 



Bearded iris (Pogoniris). These rhizomatous 

 iris with their dwarf, intermediate and tall varieties 

 will alone give a season of over three months, and 

 that for the minimum of care and under the hardest 

 conditions. Doing well in many kinds of soil 

 from heavy adobes to light sandy loams, they ask 

 only some drainage in winter and freedom from 

 weeds to give their lovely flowers. Then, too, 

 even when over, their broad, green, persistent 

 leaves look neat and clean. Plant shallow, just 

 covering the thick root stock, any time from 

 August to November, the earlier the better for 

 the first season's flowers. Manure is unnecessary, 

 but if used should be below, not in contact with 

 the rhizome. Partial shade lengthens the life 

 of the flowers. Give room to spread and leave 

 alone until crowded, as they bloom more freely 

 when established. The early dwarf varieties, 

 variously called Crimean, pumila and alpine 

 hybirds, give flowers on stems four to ten inches 

 high and in their shades of purple, pale and dark 

 blue, cream and yellows give pretty patches of 

 color, for they are wonderfully floriferous. Nomen- 

 clature is very confused so I give no names but 

 suggest that fancy varieties be omitted. Good 

 for edges and front rows of taller iris. 



The tall bearded iris, near relatives of the 

 common purple flag from which they take their 

 common name of German iris, give a wonderful 

 range of color with considerable difference of 

 height and size of flowers. A good catalogue will 

 suggest many kinds from which one might select 

 as distinct: purple — atropurpurea, Asiatica, 

 Cypriana superba; blue — pallida Dalmatica 

 (pale), Mandralisacea (darker), Ciengelti; white — 

 alba, Florentina, Mrs. H. Darwin; white edged 

 blue — Madame Chereau; white with blue or 

 purple falls — Victorine, Virginie; cream — 

 flavescens; yellow — aurea; yellow with lilac, 

 purple or brown falls — Darius, Gracchus, Hector, 



