288 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
Clivorum at some distant point seen across the water, and I might 
also add Rheum palmatum for early effect. The introduction of 
Astilbe Davidii has given rise to a number of hybrid forms partaking 
of the strength of A. Davidii, but with a more subdued range of colour. 
Some of the best are : ' Salmon Queen,' ' Cream Pearl,' ' Venus,' 
and ' Vesta,' forms which have given quite new colours to this genus, 
whilst the still newer ' Queen Mary ' and ' Rubens ' are two grand 
forms, the former being brilliant rose, whilst the latter is a particularly 
soft shade of pink. 
Astilbe grandis, one of Wilson's Chinese plants, is delightful in 
its early growth : the ruddy tinted stems covered with hairy growth 
contrasting effectively with Trollius in creamy shades close by. In 
fact, many of the Astilbes are worth special grouping on account of their 
foliage in the young state, which acts as a delightful foil to such plants 
as already mentioned, Trollius, Double Welsh Poppy (which is splendid 
by water), Mimulus, &c. Bocconias are fine in foliage and flower, 
especially when escaping late frosts. Ly thrums, especially the variety 
' Rose Queen ' and roseum superbum (I saw a real soft pink seedling 
the other day, a colour much wanted), also Eupatorium purpureum, 
a unique and handsome plant, whose fine tall heads of flower are 
very effective from a distance. I noticed a few days since a grouping 
of the Eupatorium and Senecio Clivorum, and the cream Artemisia 
lacti flora against the silver-grey Rosemary-leaved Willows — a charm- 
ing effect of purple and orange, cream and silver. 
So far in these remarks I have omitted all reference to what I 
think may be called amongst hardy plants the chief glory of the* 
water garden in July — the Japanese Iris {Iris Kaempferi). 
There is a general desire to grow these fine plants, and having been 
particularly successful in their cultivation, I may perhaps refer here 
to what I regard as the main conditions for success. They will 
do well in any well-worked soil and that which is rich in vegetable 
matter, but avoid planting in heavy clay by water-side. On meadow 
pasture land along side ditches and small ponds, planted just above 
the water line, in soil that has been well dug and manured, they will 
thrive splendidly and often seed themselves about. Another point,, 
division after flowering in August is best. You will find in early 
autumn quantities of new roots pushing, so that by early planting you 
gain all this new root action. Again, in February countless fibrous 
roots are pushed out. This is the time to mulch freely, and about 
May dam your ditches if possible and flood freely. Division of the 
clumps every two or three years is good, and planting in fresh soil : 
such greedy rooters quickly exhaust their surroundings. You may 
say, " Why take all this trouble?" Well, if you do you will have 
foliage over 3 feet in height, and spikes 4 feet high, five to six on a 
clump, and your water-side and ditches will glow with colour, huge 
flowers more like gigantic butterflies just poised, and such a combina- 
tion of colours as I think are not to be found in any other plants. 
One more point : always plant in fullest exposure in the sun ; remember 
