IRIS. 



163 



not alone because of its not being hardy, but if left in 

 the ground after its leaves liave died down in the spring, 

 it is liable to make an autumn growth, which is fatal to 

 its flowering the following spring. It should be grown 

 either in a frame or in a cool greenhouse. It is remark- 

 ably beautiful in the house, as a pot plant. The only 

 care necessary is to let it grow, when it starts, and give 

 it perfect rest after flowering. 



Tuberous-Rooted Iris. — The most prominent in 

 this class is /. germanica, or German Iris, and it is one 



GERMAN IRIS, PLANT AND FLOWER. 



of the most valuable of the early or medium early flower- 

 ing sorts for the herbaceous border. The flowers are 

 large and showy, and produced so freely that the plants, 

 in May, are a mass of blue, bright yellow, purple of all 

 shades, white, and all the shades of color that the vari- 

 ous combinations will produce. When care and system 

 have been employed in planting, a mass of German Iris 

 is a gorgeous sight. This species is perfectly hardy, but 

 will be greatly benefited by a light mulching of leaves 



