1^7 



at the same time, is about the mean of 

 the two species. 



The second flower, Iris purpureo- 

 persica, the result of crossing persica- 

 purp urea with per ska, is a very remark- 

 able and beautiful hybrid. In general 

 appearance it is not unlike its seed parent 

 {fersica-purpured) and is best described 

 as a large and improved form of it. Its 

 leaves are very stiff, of greyish green, very 

 falcate, and only fully developed after 

 the flowers ha ve faded . These are of large 

 size, being over 4 inches across and of 

 great substance ; their colour is auniform 

 ruby-red, remarkable at all times, but 

 particularly rich and glowingwhen seen 

 with subdued sunlight falling through 

 the petals, either in the early morning 

 or towards sunset. At such a moment a 

 colony of this Iris presents a lovely and 

 striking appearance. On the falls the 

 general colouring deepens into blackish 

 maroon, relieved by the bright orange 

 crest inherited frompersica. From it also 

 it has its lovely sweet violet-like smell, 

 so pleasing upon the sunny days of early 

 spring. 



Both hybrids are of proved hardi- 

 ness ; in some English gardens as well 

 as in my own nurseries a few plants that 

 had formed big clumps were not lifted 

 and came unharmed through the really 

 arctic winter of 1902- 1903, flowering 

 just as freely as ever, though in no 

 way protected. This fact, together with 

 the profusion and substance of their 

 flowers and their bright colouring, is 

 merit sufficient to ensure them a wel- 

 come to our spring bulb-gardens. 



C. G. VAN TUBERGEN, Jun. 



Haarlem. 



THE GREATER TREES OF THE 

 NORTHERN FOREST.— No. 14. 



THE ASH (Fraxinus excelsior). 

 For its high economic value in manu- 

 factures, beauty of form, and splendid 

 endurance in northern regions, this is 

 one of the most precious of trees. I have 

 seen many an old Ash about farm- 

 houses as fine in its winter form as any 

 tree could be ; it is noble in height, too, 

 when grown in high woods or massed 

 in good conditions. It is also an excel- 

 lent wood to burn and the only one 

 the branchlets of which will cheerfully 

 cook your breakfast in the open air the 

 same morning as you cut it down. 



The Ash grows under very varied 

 conditions, and is most frequently met 

 with on the low plains and in broad 

 river-valleys, or smaller valleys where 

 the soil is cool ; under these conditions 

 it attains its greatest size and best value. 

 In no part of England is the Ash con- 

 sidered as so tough and good in quality 

 as in the Wealden district of Sussex, 

 Surrey, and Kent. In other counties 

 where the tree grows more vigorously 

 and rapidly, the quality of the wood is 

 not nearly so good. Cobbett, in the 

 " Woodlands," notices the storm-resist- 

 ing qualities of the Ash in his clear way, 

 saying, " it fears not the winds. By that 

 I do not mean the power which the 

 winds have of bringing it down, though 

 it is pretty stout in that respect and does 

 not come trembling about like an Elm 

 before every south-western puff. I mean 

 that sort of power which the winds have 

 of checking the growth of trees, and 

 especially those winds near the sea- 

 coasts. On the Hampshire coast the 



