22 



TWIN-LARCHES NURSERY, WEST CHESTER, PA. 



Iris effectively used in the formal garden 



Iris, continued 



J have spoken father of the more scientific side of Iris-raising, but the artistic side is just as important. 

 Wonderful possibilities are open to everyone in arranging Iris-gardens, both large and small. The Germanica 

 sorts, especially, will give color-elfects of the greatest beauty, and can be used in very large masses more 

 effectively than any other plant. And the possibilities of naturalizing Iris Kaempjeri along the banks of 

 streams and ponds has scarcely been touched upon. 



Tall Bearded Iris 



German Iris 



Strictly speaking, the name German should be 

 applied only to the common Blue Flag, and the 

 other May-flowering sorts, but, as generally used, 

 it includes all the tall bearded Irises of the Amcena, 

 Neglecta, Pallida, Plicata, Variegata, and Squalens 

 sections as well. These Irises are all of the typical 

 "fleur-de-lis" form, with a distinct yellow beard 

 or crest on the lower petals. They are the best- 

 known and probably the most generally useful of all 

 the great family, and are also the most varied in 

 color, ranging from bright and pale yellow to 

 cream, pure white, pale silvery lavender, and deeper 

 lavenders of every tone to richest violets and royal 

 purples, clarets, lilacs, and lilac-pinks. Sometimes 

 the flowers are self-colored, sometimes the standards 

 and falls are of different colors, or different shades of 

 the same color, and often the falls are elaborately 

 traced and veined with deeper tints. In the Squalen's 

 varieties there are also many strange and somber 

 shades of bronze, smoke-color, and dull red, one- 

 tint often being overlaid or (lushed with another, 

 giving a curious and beautiful iridescent effect. 



Most German Irises arc fragrant, some with a 

 delicious perfume suggesting locust or orange blos- 

 soms. They are effective in masses fringing the 

 shrubbery border and may be easily naturalized in 

 the grass. In the mixed border, it is better to have 

 a good-sized space devoted to each color than to 

 attempt too great a mixture. Long borders entirely 

 devoted to these Irises are very beautiful, and 

 though the blossoming-time is comparatively short, 

 the leaves stay fresh and attractive for most of the 

 summer. In such borders it is well to group the 



whites, pale yellows and lavenders together, gradu- 

 ally shading to deepest purples and clarets. Devote 

 a separate section to the bronze Squalens sorts, and 

 keep the pinkish tones away from the cruder colors, 

 combining them with white or pale lavender. In 

 the descriptions below, S. refers to the standards, or 

 erect petals, and F. to the falls, or drooping petals. 



Culture. Give the German Irises a well-drained 

 mellow soil and full sun. Wet ground or much fresh 

 manure will generally cause the plants to rot, and 

 dense shade will mean few blooms, though they will 

 do fairly well in partial shade if the situation is dry 

 and open. Irises make an annual root-growth, begin- 

 ning early in August; therefore, if planted then or early 

 in September, they will become established before 

 cold weather, and be sure to bloom the next season. 

 This is not always the case if they are set out in. 

 the spring or even late in the fall. Accoidingly, I 

 strongly advise August planting. Irises may be set 

 2 feet apart and allowed to form large clumps, or 

 set I foot apart to give a more immediate effect in 

 mass. Place the plants so that the thickened end 

 of the stem (rhizome) is just under the surface. 

 Every four or five years, lift and divide in August. 



Some New Irises 



The Iris is one of the perennials that is being 

 constantly developed and improved. Below are a 

 few of the very finest sorts recently introduced by 

 famous growers in both Europe and America. 



Caterina. One of Sir Michael Foster's most 

 beautiful hybrids. Large, massive flowers on strong, 

 branching stems, 4 1 -2 feet tall. S. clear lavender-blue, 

 F. long and drooping, soft lavender, distinctly veined 

 at base; very fragrant. Ready after August, L91o. 

 SI each. 



