THE LARGE BEARDED FLAG IRIS. 
*9 
The Flag Iris— continued. 
effective on rockwork ; the taller growing kinds are magnificent objects in flower and shrubbery borders, also 
for naturalization and to plant in woodland walks, and round the margins of lakes, ponds, etc., many of the 
family being marsh aquatics. The flowers vary in size from the miniature, to the most sumptuous. 
To cut for filling vases and for table bouquets , all the Iris are admirably adapted, and few flowers excel 
them in beauty. When necessary to forward the flowers to a distance , gather the buds just before expanding, and 
like the Gladioli, they will open in water. The effect is greatly enhanced , when the individual blossoms are 
arranged on wet sand or moss. 
IRIS BARBATA, THE BEARDED IRI3, COMMONLY CALLED GERMAN OR FLAG IRIS. 
of cut flowers are required, from May to July, as 
in size annually till they attain large proportions, e 
Our collection of Bearded Iris is the most complete 
in Europe, and in “ The Florist and Pomologist ” of 
December, 1884, a lengthened, classified, and descrip- 
tive list is given of the varieties we flowered the preced- 
ing summer. Those enumerated in this list are selected 
from upwards of 200 varieties. The better to understand 
our descriptions, we furnish a wcodcut, ana it will be 
observed from it, that three petals are erect— these are 
called Standards ; three are drooping — these are called 
Falls. The small tongued paits of the flower (St.) are 
the pelaloid stigmas, under which run the “ beards " (B.) 
The flowers in this Section are all large and handsome, 
more or less beautifully mottled in the standards, and 
reticulated in the falls ; the beards range from delicate 
primrose to orange, and the petaloid stigmas frequently 
enhance the general effect by a contrast in colour. We 
furniih these important particulars to make our descrip- 
ti jns the better understood, seeing w e have not attempted 
to take in all the individual points, but to deal with the 
colours which strike the eye on first looking at the flower. 
There is no flower, however, that so improves by exami- 
nation. Its beauty at first sight livals that of tl c Orchid, 
but, on closer examination, we have no hesitation in saying, 
there arc points of interest not to be found in the finest of 
the Orchids. I n colours there are the 1 ichest y ellows, the 
intensest purples, the most delicate blues, the softest 
mauves, and the most beautiful claret, reds. 'I here are 
whites, and primroses, and bronzes of every imaginable 
shade— indeed, language fads us in picturing all tie 
beauties of this flower ; and our descriptions, in conse- 
quence, fall far short of the reality ; and this will be 
readily understood when we state that there n ay be 
found in almost any one of the flow'ers from 10 to 20 
different shades 1 armonising and blending in such a 
manner as to make one perfectly enthusiastic. 'Those 
who have not used this iris for surrounding artificial 
lakes and ponds, or cultivated it in the flower borders, 
shrubberies, woodland walks, and wild gardens, should 
do so. It is also most valuable wherever a large quantity 
its when established, will, with good cultivation, increase 
plant yielding 50 to 100 spikes of bloom. 
BARR AND SON’S SELECTIONS OP IRIS RARBATA 
s. d. 
50 in 50 most superb varieties 30 o 
25 in 25 ,, ,, 15 o 
12 in 12 ,, 7 6 
50 in 60 very fine varieties 21 o 
25 in 25 ,, ,, 10 6 
12 in 12 ,, 5 6 
s. d. 
Choice mixed vars., p. ICO, 15*.; p. doz. 2 6 
Fine mixed vars. , ,, io/5 ,, 20 
Mxd. from Neglecta & Pallida vars. „ 36 
Mixed Squalens varieties ,, 36 
Mixed yellow varieties ,, 56 
We have arranged the Iris Barbata in natural groups, to facilitate amateurs in making selections. Each 
group has a distinct character. Germanica flowers first, ani is represented by the blue, purple, and white 
Flag Iris of our gardens ; these flower at the same time, and are extremely decorative in May. Following 
in June, comes Aphylla, with Standards having a frill-like appearance arising from the marginal coloured 
transverse lines on a white ground. Amosna has the standards white. Neglecta has the standards purple, or 
approaching to purple. Pallida has the standards ranging from pale lavender to rose-lilac. Squalens embraces 
those varieties with aesthetically-coloured standards ; and Variegala has the standards yellow, or tending to yellow. 
R 3 T In the descriptions S. is used to signify Standards, or the erect petals ; F. Falls, or the drooping petals. 
• s. <1. 
Germanica, the Blue Flag Iris {Rot. Mag.), S. blue , F. purple per ioo, 215.; per doz. 3 6 
,, vlolacea, S, purple, F. dark purple 155. » 26 
,, atro-purpurea, S. and F. very beautiful rich claret -purple per doz. , 7s. 6d. ; each o 9 
,, Purple King, 5. and F. full purple, very effective ...perioo25L 4 s. 6d.; ,, 06 
,, grisea, 5. white, F. white, tinqed and ret icu’ated lilac 1 o 
The following Bearded Iris commence flowering as the Germanica group are going out of bloom, and 
continue the succession till July. each— s. d. 
Aphylla (Dot. Mag.), S. and F. white, frilled rosy violet • », o 9 
(1 Bridesmaid, .S. very pale lavender, F. ivhite, shaded lavender, and reticulated purple ,, 09 
,, Beatrice, 5. white, frilled lilac, F. white, narrowty edged lilac ,, £ o 
,, delicatissima, S. white, heavily frilled deep blue, F. white, margined rose-purple ... o 9 
,, Gazelle, S. white, heavily frilled lilac-blue, F. white, edged violet o 0 
M Madame Chereau, S. and F. white, elegantly frilled azure-blue, tall and beautiful .. ,, 09 
