THE LARGE BEARDED FLAG IRIS. 
17 
BEAUTIFUL HARDY IRISES, 
For Flower Beds, Borders, Shrubberies, Edgings, Ponds, and Naturalization. 
, , Ir t S 13 “ Orchid ” of the flower garden ; its blossoms are the most rich and 
C H° ° U t r °f. ha ^y Plants. It should be extensively planted in flower and shrubbery 
rirh d ne« n H nat V r ? hzed Wlld gardens. As a cut-flower the Iris is invaluable, competing in 
richness and variety of colour with the choicest and the most beautiful of Orchids. 
,, T .° f°. r vases and for table bouquets, all the Iris are admirably adapted, and few flowers excel 
hie the Gladioli, ****" *° * ‘ k ‘ *** ^‘expanding, and 
IRIS BARBATA, 
THE BEARDED IRIS, COMMONLY CALLED GERMAN OR FLAG IRIS. 
Our collection of Bearded Iris is the most complete 
in Europe, and those enumerated in this list are selected 
from upwards of 200 varieties. The better to understand 
our descriptions, we furnish a woodcut, and 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 parts of the flower (St.) are 
the pelaloid stigmas, under which run the " beards " (B ) 
The flowers in this Section are all large and hand- 
some, 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 furnish these important particulars to make 
our descriptions the better understood, seeing we 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 examination. Its beauty at first sight 
rivals that of the Orchid, but, on closer examination, 
we have no hesitation in saying, there are points of interest 
not to be found in the finest of the Orchids. In colours 
there are the richest yellows, the most intense 
purples, and delicate blues, the softest mauves, and 
very beautiful claret reds. There are whites, and 
primroses, and bronzes of every imaginable shade 
indeed, language fails us in picturing all the beauties 
of this flower ; and our descriptions, in consequence, 
fall far short of the reality ; and this will be readily 
understood when we state that there may be found 
in almost any one of the flowers from 10 to 20 different 
shades harmonising 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 of cut 
flowers are required, from May to July, as plants when 
. established, will, with good cultivation, increase in size 
annually till they attain large proportions, each plant yielding 50 to too spikes of bloom. 
<r™,,, V w aV o a , rra > n S < -' d lris Barbata in natural groups, to facilitate amateurs in making selections. Each 
S°” P r ’ , a dlstmct character. Germanica flowers first, and is represented by the blue, purple, and white 
Mag Iris of our gardens ; these flower at the same time, and are extremely decorative in May. Following 
tmJs U ve?se°rn eS Afhyl !?.\ wlth Standards having a frill-like appearance arising from the marginal coloured 
* “f? h " es on a whl ‘ e s round. Amcena has the standards white. Neglecta has the standards purple, or 
, a, U u P S, .i P f ll ' da h . as the , standards ranging from pale lavender to rose-lilac. Squalens embraces 
those varieties with msthetically-coloured standards ; and Variegata has the standards yellow, or tending to yellow. 
BARR AND SON’S SELECTIONS OF IRIS BARBATA. 
Quantity. 
60 in BO most superb varieties ao 
25 in 26 „ " " 1- 
12 in 12 ,, „ 7 
60 in 60 very fine varieties 21 
26 in 25 „ ,, IO 
12 in 12 ,, .. — 
Quantity. 
Choice mixed vars., p. 100, 151.; p. doz. 
Fine mixed vars. , ,, 10/6 „ 
Mxd. from Neglecta & Pallida vars. „ 
Mixed Squalens varieties „ 
Mixed yellow varieties 
1 ST In the descriptions S. is used to signify Standards, or the erect petals ; F. Falls, or the drooping petals. 
Germanica, the Blue nag Iris ( Bat . Mag.), S. blue, F. purple per too, i« per doz. 
n violacea, S. purple, F. dark purple ,, i^s, ,, 
•» atro-purpurea, S. and F. very beautiful rich claret-purple per doz. is 6 d • each 
major, 5. blue, F. purple is 6 d : 
12 and 13, A'ing St., Cavent Garden, 1889. J ' ” " ’’ 
d. 
6 
6 
9 
9 
