IRIS, OR FLOWER DE LUCE. 



69 



be looked over as soon as they make their appearance 

 above ground, to see if they are all perfect and regu- 

 lar ; if any faulty or inferior ones should appear to 

 have been planted in a conspicuous part of the bed, by 

 accident or mistake, they can be taken out, and by 

 shortening the rows, others may be substituted with 

 a trowel. When all are regulated, look over them 

 frequently, and as the stems shoot up, tie them to 

 wires, or small rods, with shreds of bass matting or 

 thread, being careful not to injure the florets. In 

 about six weeks after they have done flowering, they 

 may be taken up, and managed as recommended for 

 bulbs in general in a former page. 



Iris, or Flower de Luce. — There are two dis- 

 tinct species of plants cultivated under the name of 

 Flower de Luce, each consisting of several varieties. 

 The bulbous species and varieties are designated as 

 English, Spanish, Persian, Chalcedonian, and Ameri- 

 can. These, if introduced into the flower borders, and 

 intermixed with perennial plants of variable colours, 

 have a very pretty appearance when planted in 

 clumps or patches. This may be done in the month 

 of October, by taking out a spadeful of earth from 

 each place allotted for a plant, and then inserting three 

 or four bulbs, about two inches deep. If the ground be 

 poor, some rich compost may be dug in around the 

 spot before the bulbs are planted, and if several sorts 

 be planted in the same border, let them be of various 

 colours. 



The tuberous-rooted are of various colours, as blue, 

 yellow, brown, and spotted ; they are easily cultivated, 



