268 
FLORA AND SVLVA 
Culture. — These hybrid Iris like a ! Planting. — Planting is best done 
well-enriched sandy loam, free from about the end of September, but is 
artificial manures, though agood dress- possible until the end of October, 
ing of well rotted cow-dung may be Though not necessary before the last 
added with advantage. The ground week of September, it is fatal if de- 
should be very deeply worked and so ferred until November, as the ground is 
carefully drained as to allow all super- then too cold for the making of winter 
fluous water to escape rapidly; this is roots. 
ofthefirstimportance,especiallyin win- j Protection. — These Iris are hardy, 
ter, when the rhizomes are not fully but as it happens that in mild autumns 
rooted and apt to rot if water becomes ; some varieties make growth before 
stagnant. If the soil is at all heavy or winter, it will be necessary to have 
stiff,besides mixing with it a fair amount the beds covered with fir-boughs or a 
of sharp silver-sand, each rhizome thin layer of long straw, to keep ofF 
should be well surrounded with sand, cutting winds and also, on very sandy 
asthiswilldomuchtokeep them sound, soils, to prevent the sand from blowing 
Together with the cow-dung (which I away. 
should be finely broken) there should After Flowering. — Unlike other 
be added a few handsful of fine mortar tuberous-rooted Iris, the leaves of this 
rubbish, as these Iris delight in chalky [ group show signs of decay in summer, 
soils. Further, they must have a warm, ' but as in our damp climate complete 
sheltered corner of the garden, where ripening-off is impossible if the roots 
they can get the fullest amount of sun- are left in the ground, they must be 
shine ; this is particularly necessary for lifted, divided, and kept dry and warm 
them in the spring and early summer, untilplantingtime. Forrhizomesplant- 
as enabling them to ripen off" sufficiently ed at the proper time (the end of Sep- 
and gather strength for the following tember) the middle of July is a good 
year. A capital place for them is at time for this work. The later the rhi- 
the foot of a south wall. The rhizomes ' zomes are in being planted, the longer 
should not be deeply covered, as this they must be left in the ground in the 
tends to weaken the crowns and pre- following summer, but the side-shoots 
vents flowering. If planted about 2 should never be allowed to become too 
inchesdeeponheavy soils, and 22 inches long. If these side-crowns are still 
in light, sandy gardens, this will be quite thick and about an inch long, the roots 
sufficient if only the roots (which some j should be lifted and spread on the 
kindsretain,moreor less, even whendry) ground to dry in the air, but not ex- 
are carefully spread out and not pressed posed to sun. After being left thus for 
together. These rhizomes emit hairy ! a few days to mature, the leaves are cut 
roots before winter, and it is obvious that j off^ to a hand's breadth, the roots some- 
the better these rootsare spread, the safer 1 what shortened, and the rhizomes then 
the rhizomes will be during the winter. I stored away till planting time. 
