362 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



July. 191! 





Siberian iris follows the oriental with gayly colored English iris, which is much like the Spanish, is 

 flowers. Plant in large clumps bulbous. Valuable as cut Sowers 



delicate slenderness of the whole plant, is 

 characteristic. The colors are light blue and 

 white. It grows in large, showy clumps. 



When one approaches the subject of 

 Japanese iris, Iris Icevigata or I. Kcemp- 

 feri of the catalogues, one may well be 

 timid, so absolutely impossible would it 

 be to even remotely describe their magnifi- 

 cence, both in color and size. Their regal 

 flowers often measure ten, and sometimes 

 twelve inches in diameter, and their rich 

 and varied coloring easily surpasses that 

 of all other types; one does not wonder 

 that they were formerly held sacred in 

 their native country. They bloom after 

 the German iris has gone, and are some- 

 times referred to as "summer iris." The 

 characteristics of this species are the plate- 

 like flatness of the flowers — as opposed to 

 the drooping three petals so characteristic 

 of the family — the breadth of the petals 

 and the gorgeous shades of color and bold 

 and varied markings. They require a 

 rich and moist soil, and are somewhat more 

 difficult to raise abundantly, than their 

 earlier sisters. But we must have them, in 

 even a small garden, where even a few plants 

 will be a joy. Any of the varieties are 

 enchanting, so one can hardly go astray. 

 I think none of the more gorgeous ones are 

 more beautiful than the pure white, banded 

 with gold. 



If one has a large garden, having a pool, 

 or swampy or moist place in its confines, 

 the oriental and Japan and Siberian 

 irises are most lovely in such a setting 

 and flourish luxuriantly. The Japan iris 

 is particularly adapted to this sort of 

 culture. It and the ostrich fern are charm- 

 ing neighbors, and resemble each other 

 in their royal attributes. "The Fleur-de- 

 luce, the flower of chivalry" says Ruskin, 

 "has a sword for its leaf, and a lily for its 



heart," and we always think of it as the 

 flower of royalty. 



The Japanese irises may also be used in 

 borders, and are very effective grown in 

 this way. They do not bloom as abun- 

 dantly as the German irises, but the 

 individual blossoms are so large and showy, 

 that they are nearly as effective. I know 

 of no more exquisite surprise in my garden 

 than the appearance of the single perfect 

 first flowers of this iris, where, the day or 

 even hour before, were only the green leaves. 



The varieties of iris of which we have 

 been speaking have all been of the her- 

 baceous kinds which increase by roots and 

 stocks, forming large clumps. We now 

 come to the bulbous division; the Spanish 

 iris, Iris Ziphium, and the English, Iris 

 Ziphioides. These have an entirely dif- 

 ferent habit of growth. The plants spring 

 from small bulbs, which must be set singly, 

 about four inches apart. They are easy 

 of culture but must be protected during 

 the winter by a slight mulch. 



The Spanish iris flowers in June. It 

 thrives best in full sunlight, in a light soil, 

 and grows about one and one half feet 

 high. Its blossoms are about the size 

 and shape of our common wild iris, and 

 blossoms, stem, and leaves are much 

 smaller and more slender than the German 

 iris, and there are two or three leaves only, 

 on each stalk. The flowers are enchant- 

 ing, of delicate shape, and beautiful clear 

 colors; pure white, light blue, lemon, 

 orange, and many orchid-like variations. 

 They are easily forced for winter growth, 

 either in pans, or boxes for cutting. 



My first experience with Spanish iris 

 was rather amusing. To begin with, I, 

 having been both enchanted and impressed 

 by my first acquaintance with it in the 

 florist's windows, in royal bunches of its 



German iris, the best known of all. can be had 

 in an immense variety of colors 



delicate perfect blossoms arranged in 

 masses of the separate colors, thought it 

 an unattainable luxury. 



Therefore, when asked by a friend if I 

 would Like to add to her Holland order, I 

 refused. Then, tempted by the fascinat- 

 ing memory, I hesitatingly asked the price, 

 and to my amazement was told that the 

 bulbs were twenty-five cents a hundred! 

 It did not take me long to reverse my 

 decision ! 



When the bulbs came, my surprise was 

 great to find that a package four or five 

 inches square held my "hundred." It 

 was my first experience with the bulbous 

 iris, and I had expected a package some- 

 what proportionate to the size of my own 

 familiar iris root stocks! Expecting that 

 the tiny bulbs would multiply and " spread " 

 I planted them a foot or so apart, and as 

 each bulb produced only a slender spike 

 springing from between two grass-like 

 leaves, and bearing one or two blossoms, 

 my "row" which I had fondly imagined 

 would impress all beholders, was invisible 

 a few feet away! To add to the complica- 

 tion I had also intended it for a "screen" 

 for some shabby plants just beyond! 

 However, our pride was great, as the 

 beautiful slender blossoms appeared, of 

 every variety of enchanting color. And 

 as none of our neighbors' gardens boasted 

 any iris, save the old-fashioned kinds, every 

 horticultural acquaintance was brought 

 out to admire and envy. 



We did not then know that the bulbs 

 should be partially protected in the 

 winter, and the second spring, we looked 

 anxiously for the expected multiplication; 

 but alas! Winter frost, and early cut- 

 worms had done their worst, and about 

 one iris in ten appeared. 



However, we learn by experience, and now 



