28 



/. T. LOVETT, LITTLE SILVER, N. J. 



IMPERIAL JAPANESE IRIS. 



Iris Kaeaipferi. 



"Little wonder that a plant so boldly deco- 

 rative in outline and bearing a flower of ex- 

 quisite coloring so marvellously formed 

 should make its strongest appeal to the ar- 

 tistic Japanese. From these foremost gard- 

 eners of the world has come a strain of irises 

 that neither orchids nor lilies can rival in 

 beauty of form, texture, coloring, markings 

 and general effectiveness. In the Mikado's 

 garden, under ideal culture conditions — that 

 is to say, in rich, warm, sunny, alluvial land 

 — the blossoms will measure from nine to 

 twelve inches across their flat petals. * * 

 * * Yet the Iris Kaempferi may be as easily 

 grown as the potato. Moreover, it is perfect- 

 ly hardy. High dry lands do not suit its 

 moisture-loving roots, but good garden soil, 

 enriched with thoroughly decayed manure, 

 deeply dug in and well watered during June 

 and July — the blossom months in the north- 

 eastern United States — will produce flowers 

 of wonderful size. Do not select a shady 

 place for your irises. They thrive under full 

 exposure to the sun, but moisture they must 

 have to bloom their best, and sometimes 

 their roots will penetrate two feet deep to 

 get it. Naturalized in the water garden, 

 where the tall, narrow blade-like leaves rise 

 in phalanxes around the shore and the stately 

 beauty of the flowers is reflected in the mirrir 

 below, they are ideally situated; but let no 

 one forego the delight of growing Japanese 

 irises merely because he has not a pond or a 

 stream on his place." — The Garden Magazine 



"At the beginning of July the magnificent 



Japan Irises are in bloom, than which there 

 is nothing finer. Wealthy men build and 

 maintain glass houses at great expense to 

 shelter things not half so fine." — /. W- Elliott. 



What more need be said — what more can 

 well be said? In 18 90 I received direct from 

 the Imperial Gardens of Japan, over two hun- 

 dred and fifty varieties of the Japanese Iris. 

 These I increased until I now have acres of 

 them; comprising, doubtless, the finest stock 

 in America of these truly royal hardy flowers. 

 The following list has been selected from 

 those received from Japan, after careful test- 

 ing, to which are added a few of the choicest 

 varieties introduced by other growers. 



Ada. — Six large, flat petals; porcelain blue 

 thickly veined throughout with azuse. 



Agnes. — Six rather small flat petals; white, 

 broadly margined with deep lavender. 



Alida Lovett. — Six large, overlapping, droop- 

 ing petals; French white, pencilled and vein- 

 ed with azure, presenting a frosted aspect. 



Bertha. — Six large broad petals; azure 

 blotched and marked with white. 



Blue Jay. — Three petals; large, long and 

 drooping; deep indigo blue with yellow base, 

 center plum. Very free. Dwarf habit. 



Bopeep. — Three petals, French white veined 

 with lavender and with satiny luster. 



Dagmar Georgeson. —Three petals, large and 

 drooping; rich royal purple. 



Dorothy. — Nine crimped and twisted petals; 

 splashed and blotched with French white. 



Dandy. — Three large petals; pearly white, 

 pencilled with indigo; center petals rich plum. 



Delicata. — Six large and pointed petals; 

 pure white, suffused and veined with rose. 



Double White or Gold Bound. —Six large open 

 petals; milk white, bounded with yellow. 



Iford. — Three large drooping petals; pure 

 white suffused with azure. 



J. T. Lovett (Navy Blue.) — Six large petals; 

 bright blue, changing to Yale blue. 



Lester. —Six petals; Yale blue, veined and 

 marked with pearly white. 



Mahogany. — Nine long petals; rich velvety 

 maroon with soft lustre. 



Miss Gray. — Three large petals; violet 

 shading to purple. 



Mrs. Georgeson. —Outer petals pearly white; 

 veined blue; inner petals deep blue. 



Painted Lady. —Three large drooping petals; 

 white, suffused and splashed with claret. 



Peacock. — Nine large overlapping violet- 

 purple petals. 



Prof. Georgeson. — Three very large petals; 

 pure rich violet. 



Pyramid. — Nine large overlapping petals; 

 indigo blue with ivory white at base. 



Sherwood. — Three large drooping petals; 

 pearly white, deeply edged with bright rose. 



Spaulding. — Six broad flat petals, oddly 

 and beautifully crimped; rosy-purple shading 

 to pure white at base. 



Thomps Lovett. — Six petals, crimped and 

 overlapping; violet with band of golden yel- 

 low at base; center violet. 



Wm. Tell — Six petals; cobalt blue with dis- 

 tinct white rays and white center. 



Each 20c; doz. $2.00; 100, $12.00. 



A set — one each of the 25 sorts — for $4-00. 



