SELECT BULBS FOR FALL PLANTING 
15 
MOURNING IRIS 
The Mourning Iris, as Iris Susiana is called, is a bulbous Iris with large, bluish 
flowers veined with brown, and so odd as to attract attention wherever it is grown. 
The bulbs are handled dry, and must be planted before Christmas, if possible. I sell 
them at 20 cts. each, or $2 per dozen. 
SPANISH IRIS 
The large flowers have very clear coloring, and arc borne at the top of long, stiff 
but slender stems. Few flowers combine more good points, cither for cut-flowers or 
garden decoration, and luckily they are very cheap. The colors range from the darkest 
blue to pure white, clear yellow, and have many marvelous combinations of stripes 
and splashes of color. These Irises have been known in America for only about ten years. 
Culture. They do best in a thoroughly worked light or fairly heavy loam, and 
indeed do better in adobe than in lighter soils. Plant about 3 inches deep and water 
freely until after flowering. Light shade helps, but dense shade is a detriment. They 
do not need to be lifted for several years, and they flower more freely each season. 
I offer two mixtures: Trade Mixture — this is put up in Holland and is good. The 
bulbs are fair, and the varieties of an average; most of them arc from the best named 
sorts, but the bulbs are not large size. Price, 15 cts. per doz., 75 cts. per 100, $6 per 1,000. 
Purdy's Superb Mixture. 1 make this up myself by using equal quantities of the 
finest named sorts. It saves me the trouble of labeling and wrapping a lot of parcels, 
and it gives you the finest quality at a lower rate. 20 cts. per doz., Si per 100, $9 per 1 ,000. 
Named Spanish Iris 
In these I buy bulbs of unusually high quality 
and of the best standard varieties. No better can 
be bought. 
In yellow, Chrysolora, early and large; Cajanus, 
late and tall; Sophie Jaffe. In blues, Alex, von 
Humboldt, and the dark blue Darling. In white, 
Belle Chinoise, British Queen and Blanche 
Superbe; also Louise, in white and dark blue; La 
Tendresse is while, tinged yellow; Snowball is 
white, tinged blue. All at 20 cts. per doz., Si. 25 
per 100, Sio per 1,000. 500 at 1,000 rate. 
ENGLISH IRIS 
The English Irises are loo little known. Like 
their cousins, the Spanish Irises, the bulbs can be 
handled dry, and also like them, they prefer an 
open situation and rather heavy and moist soil, 
though they will grow anywhere. The beautiful 
drawing by Mr. Valentine on this page well shows 
their beauty. The glorious flowers, much larger 
than the Spanish Irises, come in all shades, from 
blue to white, with many exquisite lavenders. 
Mixed bulbs all 50 cts. per doz., Si. 75 per 100. 
Two Other Good Irises 
Iris ochroleuca, otherwise known as Iris 
orientalis, is a truly noble plant, which stands 3 to 
4 feet high, and bears large, cream-colored flowers. 
It will grow in any garden soil, and will do well at 
the water's edge. Strong plants, 25 cts. each. 
Iris Sibirica is almost unknown in Californian 
gardens, but well worth knowing. It forms strong 
masses not unlike the larger-growing wild Irises, 
and the fine, deep blue or white flowers arc borne 
well above the leaves. They should have a rather 
moist soil and should not be disturbed often. 
Strong plants, 15 cts. each, Si. 25 per doz. English Iris 
