i8 
BARR AND SON, KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 
IRIS. 
The Iris is the “ Orchid ” of the flower garden, being the richest and most varied in colour, and diverse 
in form. All are perfectly hardy, and should be extensively planted in flower and shrubbery borders ; 
also for naturalization and in wild gardens ; once properly planted, they require no more care. As a cut-flower 
the Iris is invaluable, competing with the choicest and the most beautiful Orchids in richness and variety of 
colour, with the most remarkable combinations, such as characterise the wonderful diversity in Orchid flowers. 
A judicious selection of Iris should include the finest in colour and form, and the most quaint in colours and com- 
binations, and give a succession from Christmas to August, at an outlay barely the cost of a specimen Orchid. 
Iris A lata, Reticulata, and Stylosa, flower in winter. It is not an unusual thing to see Iris Reticulata with its 
rich violet gold-blotched fragrant blossoms expanded, the ground being covered with snow, and the thermometer 
several degrees below freezing point. Following comes the violet-scented Fersica, with its delicate pearly flowers, 
inlaid with purple and gold. Next in succession the beautiful Ibcrica. Then follows Pumila, and varieties in the 
section of Dwarf Iris. Close after these comes the Barbata group, with kindred species and varieties, having 
an endless variation in colour, ranging from white and the richest golden yellow, to rose, intense purple, 
and most beautiful bronzes. The Beardless section then continues the succession in Sibirica, with its pretty 
small orchid-like blossoms ; Orientalis, with velvety blue flowers ; Graminea, with graceful foliage and charac- 
teristic blossoms ; Setosa, with charming blue flowers ; Versicolor, Virginica, etc. ; following these, the clematis- 
like Japanese Iris, Kccmpferi, with large flowers, varying from snow-white to rose, lilac, magenta, purple, 
crimson, and violet ; and with flowers of different sizes, 5 to 10 inches in diameter, with a breadth of petal 2 \ to 
3^ inches. A colouied Plate of two magnificent varieties, Imperatrix and Schcene Wienerin, appeared in The 
Garden, 30th August, 1879. We exhibited cut flowers of Iris Kcempferi on the 6th July, at the Royal Botanic 
Flower Show, and they were much admired. The Spanish Iris precede /. Kccmpferi, with flowers snow- 
white, porcelain-blue, clear yellow, and rich chestnut, having combinations of mottlings such as are only to be 
found amongst rare and curious Orchids. After these come the English Iris, with large sumptuous flowers, 
representing almost every shade of colour, distinct or in combination ; thus the succession, in conjunction with 
1. Kcempferi, is carried to the end of July, the close of the Iris season. The only plants by which one can 
compare the magnificence of English Iris are Lselias and Cattleyas, the Queens of Orchids. We had almost 
forgotten the pretty Peacock Iris, the wonderful Iris Susiana, with its large, dusky, curiously and beautifully 
reticulated flowers, the Variegatcd-foliaged Iris, which is valuable in vases and effective in the flower garden, and 
the charming little Iris Cristata, a glorious plant on dry banks ; these, with the handsome Beardless sub- 
aquatic Iris are links in an unbroken chain. 
To cut for filling vases and for table bouquets, all the Iris are admirably adapted, and when necessary to 
forward the flowers to a distance, cut them just before expanding ; like the Gladioli, the blossoms open in water. The 
effect is greatly enhanced if the individual flowers are arranged in wet sand or moss. 
ENGLISH IRIS (THE LARGE BULBOUS IRIS OF SPAIN). 
This magnificent Iris thrives best in well-drained soil; when planted in heavy soil surround the bulbs with 
sand. When convenient plant as soon after the beginning of September as possible, although we have planted as 
late as December, and even in January ; but the earlier the planting is done the better. The varieties described 
are distinct, and as strikingly beautiful and varied in colour as the most sumptuous orchids of the hot-house. 
Annual exhibits of flowers of this grand Iris wc shall make at the Meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
S. is used to signify the Standards or erect petals, F. the Falls or drooping petals. 
666 Fine mixed per 100, 6/0 ; per doz. 
667 Choice mixed ,, 8/6 , , 
668 Named varieties, mixed ,, 12/6 
663 3 each of 24 magnificent varieties 12 6 
664 1 each of 24 ditto 5 o 
666 3 each of 12 ditto 7 6 
The descriptions w r ere made by our Mr. Barr from the flowers. PC s. d °d 
669 Abigail, S. purple, edged lavender, F. white , and lavender, mottled purple 3 6. 
670 Adrian, S. satin-rose and magenta, F. delicate satin-rose, spotted violet 3 
671 Amphlmachus, S . crimson-black, F. rich velvety-purple 3 
672 Amusant, S. purple, F. rich violet, with white and yellow 3 
673 Armida, S. crimson-black, F. purple flaked crimson-black , with white and yellow 3 
674 Blanche, S. and P. white, tinged rose 3 
676 Blanche fleure, 5. and F. ivory-white, ti?iged soft rose 3 
676 Cavaignac, S. red-lavender, F. lavender, stained violet 3 
677 Cleo, S. velvety black , F. rich violet with white arid yellow 3 6. 
678 Gertrude, S. red-lilac, F. lilac, spotted purple 3 6. 
679 Graaf Bentink, S. magenta, flaked white, F. white, spotted crimson 3 6. 
680 Grande Celeste, S. ccelestial blue, F. ccelestial blue with white and yellow, very large 5 6.. 
681 Grande Blanche, S. white, slightly feathered purple, F. white, slightly blotched purple... 3 6.. 
682 Henri IV., S. red-lavender, F. pale lavender 3 
683 Hypocrates, S. rose-lilac, F. rose-lilac, tinged blue 3 
684 La Charmante, S. deep lavender-blue, F. white, margined light lavender 3 
686 Le Liban, S. magenta, flaked white, F. white , spotted and margined magenta 3 
686 La Superbe, S. lavender, flaked purple, F. delicate lavender, blotched purple 3 
687 La Vierge, S. violet-purple, F. violet-blue, spotted purple 3 
688 Lilacinus, .S. lavender, spotted lilac , F. lavender , spotted lilac 3 
689 L'Unique, 5. rich claret, F. purple, shading to blue with white and yellow 3 
690 Mountain of Snow, S. atid F. white, very large 5 
691 Mont Blanc. A', and F. pure white, very handsome 3 
692 Palatinus, S. lavender, flaked purple, F . delicate lavender, spotted purple 3 
693 Peleus. S. rich claret, F. rich crimson with white and yellow 3 
694 Perfecta, S. rose-lilac, flaked purple, F, rose-lilac, spotted purple 3 
696 Pharon, .S. velvety crimsofi, F. rich crimsoti 3 
696 Romulus, S. claret, F. violet, spotted crimson 3 
697 Simon, S. lavender, spotted purple, F. delicate lavender, spotted blue 3 
698 Vainqueur, S. lavender, feathered violet, F. delicate lavetider, spotted violet 3 
699 Victoria, S. purple , edged while , F\ white, spotted lilac 3 
700 Wapen van Rotterdam, S. red-lilac, heavily flaked purple, F. lilac, spotted purple 3 
1 6 
2 o 
each. 
s. d. 
..o 4 
SPANISH IRIS (THE SMALL BULBOUS IRIS OF SPAIN). 
The Spanish Iris are in flower a fortnight before the English, and differ considerably; the flowers being 
smaller, and the combination of colours quite different ; the blendings of the colours are more curious, and they 
English and Spanish Iris. ] [Bart and Son , 
