36 



THE FLOWER GAEDE5*. 



men who import Dutch roots, and may be forced if 

 required, like hyacinths. The Scorpion Iris, I, alata, a 

 native of North Africa, produces in early spring two or 

 three sweet-scented bright blue flowers on a very short 

 stem. A curious and striking plant requiring the same 

 culture as Cape bulbs (see Ixid). Two other bulbous 

 species, I. ociphium and I. xipTiio'ides, are by many re- 

 garded only as varieties of each other. The former is 

 known as the Spanish iris, of a great diversity of tints ; 

 the latter as the Spanish, Portuguese, and English iris, 

 in still greater variety, sufficient to form a handsome 

 collection and produce a brilliant effect when grown 

 together in a bed. They flower towards the end of 

 June, and are often thought to deserve an awning, like 

 tulips and other choice florists' flowers, to perfect their 

 bloom and prolong its duration. In other respects, too, 

 bulbous irises must have a similar treatment; namely, 

 as soon as their foliage is withered, they must be taken 

 up, have their offsets removed when sufficiently dry, and 

 be replanted in October, or better in September. A light 

 sandy soil agrees with them best. Seedlings, which will 

 generally produce varieties, may be obtained as directed 

 for hyacinths. Six or seven inches everv wav is a suiti- 

 cient distance for the adult bulbs in a bed. The Spanish 

 iris, though quite hardy as a border flower, must be taken 

 up at least every third year, in August, to be divided and 

 replanted in September. If kept out of the ground 

 much later, the blooms for the following season will fail. 

 The reason which requires them to be taken up, is that 

 new bulbs are annually formed beneath the old ones, 

 and would finally burrow so deep as to perish. The 

 plant, therefore, in a wild state, is suited for the shoulders 

 of steep hills, where a slight portion of the surface soil is 

 carried down to the valley every year. 



Iccia. — A lovely genus, delicate and brilliant, of low 

 stature and slender growth. Unfortunately for us, their 

 native home is a southern region, warm and dry, in 

 comparison w T ith which their English exile is damp and 

 chilly. In the greenhouse, especially on a shelf near 



